by Joanne Wiklund
One of the most appealing things about Easter is the love it spreads around. Little kids and old people, even Moms and Dads enjoy the day. We know it’s not just another holiday. It’s an expression of the most unbelievable love we have ever received from God. He blesses us with so much every day. Now that Easter’s over, we move forward into Spring and then to full blown Summer.
But wait! Easter isn’t an end, it’s a beginning. Remember how I reminded myself about Jesus being a Place Marker for us? Standing with us through all those trials and troubles that just keep coming? We’ve learned about God’s love in his Word. John 3:16. He gave it to us, now what are we going to do with it? We too must become Place Markers, people who love first of all. People who can defend their position when out in the world, in the world but not of it. A missionary reminded us once at a special meeting that “You might be the only Christian that one person has ever met. What will his idea of a Christian be like?” He also reminded us that “Christians aren’t perfect, but they are forgiven.”
After two years of the pandemic, we have seen love presented all over the world for people who really need it right now. We see food being supplied, housing being provided, all in the name of love. There are all kinds of opportunities for people who want and feel the need to get involved. For so long, we’ve used some excuse for not doing much. But I feel we must everyday, when we get up, just ask God what He wants us to do today for someone else. Call them and “count their nose.” Bake cookies or banana bread and share them? Do laundry, scrub a floor, fold clothes, shape up our world somehow? When we were selling an old farm house, the realtor would call at the last minute to ask if she could show the house. At the time I had a four year old, a six year old, three dogs and a cat. And they were all busy! I would ask her to give me a half an hour. I’d hang up the phone and start telling everyone what to do. I was a nervous wreck. It didn’t take long for me to recognize what a bad example I was being for the kids. Even the cat ran and hid.
So I prayed for calm, and told the kids we’re going to try something new. A Red Alert! When the realtor called at the last minute, I would hang up the phone and announce loudly, Red Alert. I asked that each one of us do something to make the place look better. It worked. I stayed calm, the kids did totally unexpected and appreciated chores without being asked. If you’ve heard this tale before, you know we used that for a long time, even when the kids were in high school. We tried to share our love as Place Markers in Jesus’ name. Hosting a crew of students from a Christian College for the weekend or listening privately to just one person, we still try to share God’s love when we can. We need to keep looking for ways to make people feel better. Studying God’s word will help us create a plan for ways to spread His love around.
Onward!
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasing life. 17 “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but tht the world through him might be saved.”
Luke 7:47 “Her sins, which are many, are forgivenl for she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”
Matthew 5:14 “Ye are the light of the world, A city that is set on a hil cannot be hidden. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”
John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of light.”