The Way We Were

#TBT – Day 91 of Photo Inspirations – The Way We Were – Easter 1980
Thank you, Facebook, for the joys you’ve given me…..in so many ways – especially the opportunity to remember -- OUT LOUD!   Getting to go through archives of the past, is both a hoot and a sweet way to recall some really precious times.

This photo was taken at our church in Shawnee, OK.  It was a big deal, big enough to dress up for the big celebration of Easter.  Had to get those new Easter outfits and an Easter bonnet.  I had enough hair back then, that unmistakably served as all the hat I needed.  ;-)  And after church, it was all about the Easter egg hunts.  Every family would bring a dozen colored eggs and some appointed folks would hide them in a nearby field.  Then we’d have a spirited time of finding them all.  I remember being one of those kids – doing my best to load up my basket.

But remembering the new clothes and Easter bunnies and baskets and egg hunts, as sweet as those times are, nothing compares to the true meaning of this victorious time of celebration.   Today is Holy Thursday – the day of Holy Week, that we recall the Last Supper – the night that Jesus set the greatest example of what it is to be a Servant Leader.   Jesus -- the greatest of ALL, was servant of ALL, as He washed His disciples’ feet.   He, with the towel and basin, is KING of the universe. The same hands that shaped the earth, the stars and the moon, washed away grime and filth. He wanted his disciples to know how much He loved them. Jesus knew they were about to betray and deny Him, yet He loved and SERVED them. Such extravagant love – such excessive SERVICE. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34.  That's a tall order order, isn't?  Love as He loved us.

Christ certainly didn't just talk the TALK -- He walked the WALK. He led by example. Such love -- such service!   And, what an example He was for us.  Surely there are those in our world that cause irritation in our lives.  In fact, like Jesus, they may have denied us, deceived us, rejected us, spoke evil against us, and completely disappointed us.   Doesn’t it cause us to have a great sense of awareness that He Who was perfect and knew no sin, could set the example for us on how to deal with those honorary folks in our lives?  To be like Him, we SERVE.  We serve by loving, sharing and giving, for in that serving, we become like Him.