Justin Gaucher- 2019
“What does Easter Sunday mean to you?” If you were to ask 3 year old Justin, he’d tell you bunnies and chocolate and Easter baskets full of eggs. The same question directed at a 13 year old me would give you a much different answer. Easter Sunday to him was about spending time with family he didn’t like, having to hide his bitterness for the sake of others so a luncheon at his grandmother’s could be enjoyed peacefully. 33 year old Justin will now give you an even more different answer. Easter Sunday is for remembering our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and for celebrating him conquering death. It is about spreading the news of Jesus’ sacrifice so that our own sins would be forgiven.
Easter is about having hope; about being encouraged through the gospels and being loved unconditionally. Thirteen year old me grew up outside the church and was taught one main life lesson, “if I lead a poor life then its my own fault, but if I’m lucky enough to lead a good life then I should just consider myself lucky and go with it.” If I could send a letter to that young man it would read: “humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time,. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7. This would have been the absolute opposite to hearing about various punishments for misbehaving or being threatened with “or else...”. I had also been taught that people who do good will go to heaven and that people who do bad will not, but that there really isn’t a heaven anyway so what does it matter? Getting to know Jesus was not exactly at the top of anyone’s to-do list.
Matthew 19:14 says “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” This simple and wonderful verse reminds me daily of the pathway to Jesus that I so sorely lacked as a child. It reminds me of the words of encouragement every child needs to hear; everyone is welcome to Jesus. It reminds me of the role I have to play in leading my own children to the LORD. It reminds me of Easter Sunday and what it means to me.