Today is Good Friday. Today marks the anniversary of the day some 2,000 years ago when we all were saved. Jesus survived what none of us could and when he had done what was needed to do to cleanse the world he said “It is finished.” Meaning it has been accomplished. The feat that needed to be overcome to make up for all the bad that has ever and will ever be done by us. Just think how much that takes when you lump everyone from day one to the last day—all our sins big and small. It stinks. It looked so bad that for a moment God could not bear to look at his son.
Thank you Jesus! What a great gift you have given us. I accept your gift with love and thanks and hope that others will accept it as well.
I was thinking before I started to write this about how Jesus does answer our prayers—sometimes it just takes awhile. I say that because I have these awful neighbors. These people are the ones that used to throw trash on some of our lawns, write nasty notes, make up new rules for everyone, take three parking spaces in front of our houses, and generally complain about everything. Well today there is a for sale sign in front of their house. Thank you Jesus.
Now that was meant as a joke but in all seriousness, when put in context of the events of the cross I think I will ask Jesus for his grace and mercy (once again) and be grateful for all the wonderful things in this world—even the not-so-nice neighbors. Things could always be worse.
Have a blessed Good Friday and a wonderful resurrection day—Easter!
And if you have any fun egg hunt photos, let’s see them. We can rejoice in many ways this weekend.
Sometimes you just have to have a little childish fun and do things like personalize a jib jab video using the faces of your neices and nephews and when needed, the Grendel dog. I won’t get to trick or treat with the kids this year so here’s my shout out to them for Halloween. (Click on the image to see the video.)
Rappin Monsters
And here’s the classic Monster Mash version. (Click on image to see video.)
My friend Bob, a wise and generous man, told me a story the other day about how Mother’s Day came about. I’d like to share that with you. I took this off the Web site the Holiday Spot.
In the United States, Mother’s Day was first suggested after the American Civil War by social activist Julia Ward Howe. Howe (who wrote the words to the Battle hymn of the Republic) was horrified by the carnage of the Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War and so, in 1870, she tried to issue a manifesto for peace at international peace conferences in London and Paris (it was much like the later Mother’s Day Peace Proclamation).
It should be well to remember that Howe’s idea was influenced by Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis, a young Appalachian homemaker who, starting in 1858, had attempted to improve sanitation through what she called “Mothers Friendship Day”. In the 1900’s, at a time when most women devoted their time solely on their family and homes, Jarvis was working to assist in the healing of the nation after the Civil War. She organized women throughout the Civil War to work for better sanitary conditions for both sides and in 1868 she began work to reconcile Union and Confederate neighbors. Ann was instrumental in saving thousands of lives by teaching women in her Mothers Friendship Clubs the basics of nursing and sanitation which she had learned from her famous physician brother James Reeves, M.D. In parts of the United States it was customary to plant tomatoes outdoors after Mother’s Work Days (and not before).
It was Jarvis’ daughter, Anna Jarvis, who finally succeeded in introducing Mother’s Day in the sense as we celebrate it today. Anna decided to dedicate her life to her mother’s cause and to establish Mother’s Day to “honor mothers, living and dead.” She started the campaign to establish a national Mother’s Day. With her friends, she started a letter-writing campaign to urge ministers, businessmen, and congressmen in declaring a national Mother’s Day holiday. She hoped Mother’s Day would increase respect for parents and strengthen family bonds.
So on this Mother’s Day I say, “Mom, you are the best. I love you. Happy Mother’s Day.” And since no one says it better than God, here’s to you Mom.
Proverbs 31:26-29
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.
From the Observation Deck 