No Black Dress for Me

(I was going to blog Thursday through Sunday, too, but I've decided I'm going to end my Holy Week writing with this entry - Happy Easter!)

“Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55

When I was four, my playmate Prissy died in a car accident. One of my earliest memories is the moment my mom told me that Prissy went to be with Jesus.

I lost my beloved Granny when I was 12 and my Grandma Mamie when I was 21.

During my junior high and high school years, I lost seven friends, including a guy I dated.

I’ve lost teacher friends and students. Two of my neighbors committed suicide. Several relatives, some close and some not, have died.

And of course, my beloved parents are both deceased.

A few years ago I was teaching at a Christian high school and I shared with my students that I’ve had a lot of experience with death – two people died right in front of me. I’ve been to way too many funerals.

When I told my class this, one of my students, as only a high school girl can, looked at me in complete sincerity and asked, “Mrs. Iobst, how are you not crying all the time?”

My answer was just as sincere.

“I do cry sometimes, but I live a life of joy because I’ll never attend Jesus’ funeral.”

This Friday we take a day and remember in gratitude the mystery of unconditional love and sacrifice. We imagine the pain Jesus endured and the choice He made to die in order that you and I might truly live.

And then on Sunday we celebrate! We celebrate the One we never need to mourn. The One who lives eternally and who offers each of us the gift of eternal life. I will see many of those I’ve lost again in Heaven, because they accepted Christ’s sacrifice and chose to live for Him.

It truly is extraordinary, isn’t it? We serve a RISEN SAVIOR!

Happy Resurrection Day!

He is Risen; He is Risen Indeed!