March 2007

My letter this time may be quite predictable to many as I mention the great blessing we have had as a family through the birth of our granddaughter, Millie Joy Speirs. It was wonderful to have Caroline, Andy and Millie visit us from Australia. That which had just been photos in e-mails became for us a real little baby to see and hold. Many of you know that I get emotional at the best of times but I wasn’t prepared for the spectrum of emotions which this visit brought to us. The elation of the arrival and continued joy of spending time with them eventually led to having to bid them farewell as they made their way back to Australia and we had to come to terms with that.

It made me think of what it was like for the followers of Jesus before and after the resurrection. Jesus’ followers got to know him and love him and were bereft when they witnessed him die on the cross. However, their sadness was to turn to joy after they discovered the resurrected Jesus who once again walked with them and talked with them. When I held my wee granddaughter I was reminded of how much God loves us and cares for us and protects us in our vulnerability. He dotes on us more than we could ever love our nearest and dearest and as someone said, if God had a purse or a wallet your photo would be in it for Him to show to all the angels.

Let us take time over the Easter period to allow ourselves to experience the different emotions which the Easter story brings. Let us try to avoid the urge to rush on to the Easter morning before we have stopped to consider the pain, the suffering and the anguish which our Lord endured for us. When we deny ourselves of that we are poorer spiritually for so doing.

The disciples had then to come to terms with Jesus leaving them once again to return to heaven but He left them and us with the wonderful promise that He will return again and gather all His people to Him and that is the Good News of Easter and the hope for us that the best is yet to come.

May you know God’s richest blessings this Easter as we give God thanks for all his love and faithfulness.