Endings and Beginnings
by Myrna Ryder

[Jesus] said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.  John 19:30

As the little girl came into the room, she exclaimed, “Grandma, it’s over!” 

She saw that her grandmother still had her decorated Christmas tree up, and it was, after all, near the end of January! 

She knew that as wonderful as Christmas had been with new toys, great times and all, it was over.  This little girl, wise beyond her years, doesn’t know how many times we have said, “As Chelsea would say, it’s over!”  We must move on.

Just before He died, our Lord declared, “It is finished!”  It was over.  Good Friday had happened and Easter was near.  Just as the little girl implied to her grandmother that we must move on, so our Lord moved on, rising from the dead, so that we might have new life.

The Easter story is all about moving on, beginning again.  We learn from the past and move on to the future.  What a beautiful story Easter provides.  How incredible are the opportunities that God has given us through His Son!

Almighty God, what a wonderful gift You have given to us in Jesus.  Because of what He has done for us, You look at our sins and say, “It’s over!  The price is paid!  Walk in the new life I give to you!”  Help me to take that walk every day – even if I sometimes use baby steps.  May the promise of Easter fill me with hope each and every day.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.