Easter Joy

Easter has always been one of the most special days for me. In addition to the glorious gift of eternal life, it is generally a day full of joy, laughter and family. Easter equals life. It's a new beginning for everyone. It's the start of the awareness that this beautiful second chance was gifted upon you without having been capable of doing anything to deserve it. For me, it inspires me to strive to be the best sister I can to all who I meet and to live a life of putting others first. No matter the weather, Easter is a beautiful reminder of the joy of Spring.

Yesterday was a day that started with the  initial joy of Easter in my heart upon waking up, then feelings of melancholy and sadness arose from the separation from my loved ones that promptly turned back around into feelings of love and peace during moments of community with my friends in the sunshine all while the refrains of "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" and "Thine be the Glory" (in both French and English) danced around my head and out of my mouth. Joyous adventures filled my day from  Mass, while lightheaded with stars dancing in my eyesight due to an allergic reaction of the incense, my mind began to wander slightly to a ride on the Scrambler in an Easter dress brought an extreme case of the giggles everytime the ride zipped around and my dress flew up in the air but the best part of my day was seeing and experiencing the smiles on the faces of my friends (whether they were shared in Place Stanislas around a glass of wine or were a pixelated image on a computer screen during a skype call). All in all, my Easter was grand.

Throughout my entire life, Easter has been a celebration of life and family. The sheer thought of it at any moment of the year brings the edges of my lips into a smile and brings me peace. Beautiful moments spent in the sunshine of my Aunt and Uncle's home with flowers blooming all around and Easter baskets (filled with oddities such as plastic alligators and tootsie roll banks), the off-tune yet joyous voices of my dear brothers and sisters in Christ around a campfire during the sunrise filling the hillside with a hearty chorus of "Alleluia,"and countless Easter hams, (dropped) bunny cakes and left yellow centers of hard boiled Easter eggs give Easter such life and meaning in my life. While yesterday wasn't spent at the cross during the sunrise service or with any of my family members around a traditional Easter table, my Easter still turned out to be one full of wonder and excitement. I spent it  basking in the Sonlight (I'm punny) and bringing joy to those around me. To me, that's the Reason for the Season.