My mother celebrated Easter in a big way. She could find parallels to the events of Easter at every turn.
As soon as new Spring fabrics arrived, Mom would buy a bolt. During dark winter days, she sewed dresses and shirts for all 8 of her children and herself. While it was exciting to get new clothes, it held a bitter edge for me. I had two older sisters, so by the iron-clad laws of hand-me-downs by which we lived, I would have to grow out the same dress three times!
In addition to new dresses, my sisters and I would get new white gloves, anklets, summer shoes, purses, and hats. Every woman and girl wore a hat on Easter. These would be our Sunday-go-to-meeting clothing until they were worn out or we grew out of them.
Mom said, “We wear new clothes and hats on Easter as a reminder someday Jesus will clothe us in pure white robes and place on our heads crowns of life.”
Mom made the candy in our Easter baskets. Strawberry divinity was her specialty.
As we colored eggs, she said eggs were like little tombs with life inside. “While the yoke and white don’t look much like a baby chick but they undergo a transformation inside their little tombs and emerge as chicks. That explains why people didn’t always recognize Him after His resurrection. Jesus was still Jesus, but His body was remade new. The Bible says we will be remade to be like Him.”
Her most powerful parallel was the one she saw at Sunrise Service.
Shivering in the morning dark, the congregation quietly gathered on the church’s east lawn. Stars still hung in the sky as the Service began.
By the flickering light of an oil lamp, our preacher Dad read scripture how heartbreak turned to jubilation for the women who went to the tomb to prepare the body of the Jesus.
As we listened, all eyes were on the eastern sky and the ever-changing streaks of color.
When he finished reading, Dad began singing and everyone joined in.
“The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin.
“The light of the world is Jesus.
“Like sunshine at noonday his glory shone in.
“The light of the world is Jesus.
“Come to the light, tis shining for thee.
“Sweetly the light has dawned upon me…”
As we sang, the sun peeked over the horizon then poured golden light upon us. I understood why Jesus chose to rise from the dead at daybreak.
Awed by the growing light, Mom whispered, “The Son has risen!”