Easter 2020

Happy Maundy Thursday to all of my dear readers! I must say, though--never in all my nineteen years of life have I celebrated Easter like this.
When I was particularly small, our family would do Resurrection Eggs. (At least I think that's what they were called.) It was a plastic carton full of plastic eggs, and inside each egg was a small figure that was to remind us of one aspect of Christ's Passion. In the first egg, for example, was a toy donkey to symbolize the Triumphal Entry. There was a two-inch-long leather whip in one, a nail in one, and a rock in another. The last one, though, was empty to symbolize the empty tomb on Easter morning.
Along with each day's egg came a short devotional. Mom would read it to us. Once our reading skills were adequate, my sister and I would read bits of the devotional as well. Our dad would even join us on occasion.
We haven't done the Resurrection Eggs in several years. We lost little pieces throughout the years, and I think we got rid of them entirely when we moved. Besides, my sister and I are too old for them now.
But this year...this year, we're nixing all the traditions.
We used to decorate for Easter. We have a family of bunnies wearing dresses and carrying baskets that we used to prop up in the corner near the coat closet. We had two wooden flowers that we'd set up in my bedroom. Of course, we'd have baskets full of that plastic grass that you end up vacuuming for months afterwards. You know. Typical Easter stuff.
This year, we can't even go to church thanks to Coronavirus.
It's a fitting holiday for a pandemic, actually. On Easter, we remember that Jesus carried all our sins, sicknesses, and the general nastiness of humanity. We remember the wounds that, according to Isaiah, provided our healing. And we remember that, just as Christ was raised to life, all the Christians who have died during this pandemic will find new life in heaven.
I mean, we all will someday.
​Easter is a season of hope, and right now, we have a lot to hope for. Hope that quarantine will end soon. Hope that we'll find a vaccine. Hope that the government will either start implementing the cure they've found or find another one that works better. Hope that life will return to normal--except that we'll have closer communities and higher standards of hygiene.
We Christians have hope that we'll end up in heaven someday, where pandemics aren't a thing and where every day is a day of celebration and praise and thanksgiving.
How will you spend Easter in quarantine? You can join my church service online if you want--Victory Life Church will be having a live stream! God bless you, dear readers. Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay peaceful.