“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”          Peter 1:3

The church we attended while raising our children had some precious traditions during Holy Week. One of my favorites was the flowering of the cross. As you may have experienced, we attended a service on Good Friday that focused on the suffering of Christ and His death on the cross. It was a somber service, one which concluded in a dark, unadorned sanctuary. We parted in silence to mourn our savior’s sacrifice and reflect on all that Jesus suffered for each of us. 

When we returned on Easter Sunday morning to celebrate our risen Lord, the solemn, dark sanctuary was transformed for this bright new day. The rugged cross with nails and dark draping had come to life blooming with flowers. This symbol of suffering was made beautiful. The cross in bloom is an image I carry with me and love. 

Easter is a turning point in various ways. Our season of weather begins to shift. Winter turns to Spring. Barren trees produce green leaves again and the first flowers cheer us with their beauty. The change of season causes us to rotate our wardrobe too. Goodbye, turtlenecks and sweaters, dark colors and scarves – Hello, shorts and sleeveless, floral prints and Spring colors. All are turning points; however, the ultimate turning point at Easter should be marked by our Christian walk and new birth in Christ. 

As the flowers begin to bloom all around us, this is an excellent time to evaluate our faith. 

Today, is your faith in full bloom with living hope, just beginning to bud with so much more faith to unfold, or stuck in the bleak mid-winter … the frozen chosen?

Our faith, hope, and rebirth in Christ Jesus should be flowering in full bloom just like that Easter cross. We are given the promise of eternal life sealed through Christ’s sacrifice.

Be in bloom! 

Bloom with the hope and promise of a better tomorrow and the knowledge of the gift that awaits us when this race is done.

During this time of renewal, rebirth, and new life, bloom!

Make sure you are flowering for others to see and to be encouraged by the Christian life you live which was given by Him.

Not a Christian yet? There is no better time than now to come alive in Jesus Christ. 

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the sacrifice of your son for my sins, which are too numerous to name. I pray that the excitement and joy of the Easter resurrection will be reflected in the way I live for you, every day. Help me to surround myself with others and experiences that nurture me so that I can be in full bloom for you all year round. 

Amen.