It's Friday now...

It's different celebrating Easter this year. It's the first celebration of the Resurrection since my mother went to Heaven, so I'm thinking of life and death differently than I did before. It means more, somehow. 

 In a sense, I'm living in a perpetual Friday state. I'm in the midst of the brokenness, the disappointment, the heartache of pain and loss. My mom is gone. I haven't heard her say my name in eight long months. I haven't seen her smile or been able to share a special moment in so long. Nor will I again, ever, in my lifetime. Never. again. 
Not only that, but I'm entering that stage of life defined by loss. My children are leaving home. Within the next few months, three different children will be moving out of my home, never to return. It's a good thing. But it's hard. It's Friday... 

And yet, Sunday is coming. The best part is, I know what that means?!  It doesn't mean that my mama will come walking out of the grave on Sunday. It doesn't mean that it won't hurt to see my children move away. What it does mean is, my life doesn't have to be defined or controlled by that pain. I have hope! 

Jesus died. His disciples must have been so confused. Though He'd tried to explain, they just didn't have the framework to understand. They didn't have hope. In fact, some of them went back to fishing?! They were stuck on Friday. They didn't know Sunday was coming. Until it came. 

It may be Friday for you, too. You may be struggling with the pain of desperate brokenness and heartache. You may not be able to see any hope. But I promise, Sunday's coming.

Sunday really is coming. And when it comes, it will be worth the wait.