Easter Weekend

Worldwide Unity & Healing

Good Friday

We started Easter weekend on April 10th, Good Friday, by participating in a world-wide day of prayer and fasting for relief from COVID-19. Russel M. Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints proposed the idea at the church's semi-annual worldwide conference broadcast. He invited ALL to join together and unite in our one common belief-that there is a power greater than ourselves, and to ask that power for help in our current situation.

I was invited to join a Facebook group with thousands of other people who chimed in to say they were participating. People of every religion (and no religion at all) were chiming in, supporting each other and focusing on what we have in common instead of our differences. It was a beautiful thing to witness. One woman said that she is Pagan and will call upon the energies she believes in to heal the world of the virus. An Atheist joined in and said they they don't believe in a God but they do believe in the collective power of positivity & they were happy to be part of it. People who claim various religious backgrounds but haven't practiced in years, joined and said they would be praying for the first time in a very long time. Some joined and stated that even though they disagree with many of the teachings of the LDS church, they would stand with them for this cause. So many people from different parts of the world asked if they were welcome to join even though they practice differently, and the answers were always yes. Yes a thousand times. Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Buddhists, Baptists, Mormons, Christians, Hindus, Agnostics, Atheists, and many more all came together with one common goal: to ask for a miracle. I didn't see one negative remark about anyone else's religion. No one expected anyone else to change their belief system. It was amazing. Seeing an entire group on Facebook with such extremely different backgrounds all come together supporting each other and uniting in one common goal restored my faith in humanity.

I think that the unity of that group is the miracle we needed. The world has been so divided on so many different topics for such a long time. The reminder that we are more alike than we are different was long overdue.

I still pray for the healing of those with the virus, as well as for the families of those who lost their battle. I pray for the financial well-being of those who have lost their jobs. I pray for the doctors and nurses who are working tirelessly to try to figure this thing out. I pray for the scientists trying to find a cure. I pray for the local and national leaders that they will lead with compassion and not take advantage of the power they have been given. I pray for the mental and physical health of those who are not okay being stuck at home. I pray for the teachers and kids trying to figure out online school, and the parents trying to help them. I pray for all of it, and I am grateful for the small victories.

Why do we so often focus on our differences, or whether we agree with someones life choices? Why do we feel the need to judge people by the tiny sliver of their life that we can see? Let's stop. Let's be the change the world needs, let's lead with love and compassion, and show our children that we don't have to be afraid of our differences.

Easter Day

Our family spent most of Easter at home. We held church services, and baked fresh bread. Usually when we hold church at home we don't get dressed up, but we wanted the day to feel different. I layed out clothes for everyone and convinced them to come with me down the road so we could take a few nice photographs. After I got a few good shots of the kids I handed the camera off to Lincoln and he got this photos of Matthew and I. (Not bad, right?) Then we found an open field and hid Easter eggs for the kids, but it was freezing, so it was the fastest egg hunt ever. That didn't matter, we were just happy to be doing something fun out of the house. It was a beautiful day to slow down & express our gratitude for Christ's gift of the atonement.