Easter Sunday is probably the greatest day of celebration on the Christian calendar. And, I even have a new dress this year. It isn’t amazing. But, it’s new. I know our church has some special music planned. We have an invitation out for lunch afterwards. It’s going to be a lovely day.

Even so, I’ve warned everyone who will be in close proximity that I’m pretty sure I’m going to cry. All morning.

This is the first Easter without my dad, the King of the Easter Egg Hunt. He hasn’t actually been well enough to preside over the hunt for several years. But this year, he isn’t sitting in a wheelchair watching the great-grandchildren and trying to figure out who we all are. He is in Heaven. (Where Easter is pretty much a daily event and must be spectacular.)

I know, theologically, that I should be celebrating for him. I’m doing so in my correct, theological heart. But the Bible also says that Jesus wept at Lazarus’ tomb. Jesus KNEW that he was going to destroy death and the grave in just a little while. Yet, He cried real tears when Lazarus died.

Maybe He cried because Mary, Lazarus’ sister, didn’t have enough faith. Some people teach that. But don’t you suppose it is more likely that Jesus wept because He was sorry His friends were suffering? He knew we were not meant to die. God created us to live forever with Him. Death is a detour we were never meant to take.

And that is why Jesus came to earth. To stop death from breaking our hearts. When Jesus raised Lazrus from the dead, He was giving a show & tell about our future. Someday, He will call our names, and those of us who can hear Him will walk out of our graves into eternal life.

Even knowing all that, I still may cry through our Easter service. But I’ll be crying for me and not for my father. Because he isn’t missing out on anything right now. Easter egg hunt on the farm? Pshaw! He is walking streets of gold with the One who paints rainbows in the sky.

Now that is a Happy Easter.