An Easter Miracle!

As a parent, I have learned that you must have a plan when you take your toddler into the world. The more meticulous the plan, the better off you are going to be. Yes, you need to be flexible, but you also need to have flexi straws, cheddar bunnies, coloring pages, crayons, diapers, and pretty much anything else you can stuff into your bag. Being successful as a parent is all about being prepared.

Today, I thought I was prepared. We found a daytime Good Friday service at a local church. I called at the beginning of the week to find out if they had childcare available and where to take Shep (who is WAY too rambunctious to sit through a service). 

Then, we showed up and they must have changed their minds about childcare or someone didn't get the memo. Shep and I were out of luck and we were terrified. 

I had 2 choices. I could either go home or try to take my TODDLER to a worship service. Note the word toddler is in all caps. We are totally in the toddler stage where there are full blown tantrums in Target. Needless to say, I try not to leave the house without a solid game plan AND exit strategy. I had neither. I did not even have a cheddar bunny crumb in my purse let alone a crayon.

But since we both showered and were dressed, I decided to try the worship service with Shep and I prayed that God would have mercy on my tired Momma soul. I was hoping that we could at least stay for the singing. 

If you have ever known a toddler, you know going somewhere where the toddler is expected to be quiet AND doesn't have any food, toys, or distractions is kind of like running a marathon in a potato sack. Can I get an AMEN? 

Well. . . we just walked out and we didn't just stay for the singing. We stayed for the sermon. We even stayed when the service ran over. And my rambunctious toddling terror did not make a PEEP. Not even one Easter Peep. I was shocked. God was so (sooo) good to us. 

The service ended up being one of the most meaningful services I have ever attended. There is nothing like worshiping while holding a little person in your arms and being in a room full of people who are professing their need for God's grace and praising Jesus. 

I ended up being grateful that they didn't have childcare. I want Shep to know that yes, today is a dark and sad day. Today, we are mindful about the impact our sins had on the life of Jesus.  

And while today is hard, Sunday is coming. The tomb will be EMPTY, and that is something to celebrate.

We hope you will experience an Easter miracle this weekend, too. And while my toddler staying quiet in the service was a miracle, the empty tomb is the greatest miracle there ever was. 

Happy Easter.