On the Other Side of Easter

Friday April 25, 2014
 


We live on the other side of Easter, historically.

And what about Monday—the day after our Easter Sunday celebration?

Or the Tuesday after, the weeks and months after…how are we called to live? 

Stay tuned for my fifth fave today, a quote that reminds me of just that.

I’m linking up today with the ladies of Friday’s Fave Five, where we recount our blessings for the week.

Won’t you join us?

My favorites for this week: 

1. Books in the mail—textbooks! I’m embarking on a new educational adventure, and my texts have been arriving in the mail. Believe it or not, that’s very exciting for me!

2. Friendships among my colleagues. I have a number of friends leaving at the end of the school year, and I will miss them tremendously. They have made bumpy days smooth, made me laugh, and cried and prayed with me. Oh, how I’ll miss them. And how blessed I am that some remain; I’m beginning to value them even more.

3. The brother bond. I love how my boys love each other. When one has a question or needs some advice, he calls his brothers. They check in with each other all the time. I’m so glad they have each other. Does a mama’s heart good.

4. Students, past and present. I’m getting a little sentimental about several students these days, as they’ll be moving on to college soon. But I’m so excited to see where the Lord takes them! They have such potential and so many gifts. My past students remind me of that as, each day, I hear more about where they are and what they’re doing. I told one of my younger colleagues today, in the midst of all the stuff we teachers are not crazy about, we have to remember, we DO make a difference.

5. An after-Easter quote: 

“Because of Easter, we believe that the present work God calls us to is ‘not in vain.’” (Paul David Tripp) 

The Monday after Easter, I was thinking about the Monday after the first Easter.

How did Christ’s disciples feel the day after the resurrection? And did that excitement wane as the days passed by, as mine so often does?

I Corinthians 15:57-58 gives us good advice about how to live in the light of the resurrection. And one thing it reminds us of is that our work is not in vain.

That’s a good thing to remember, whether you’re a mom, a teacher, a writer, a whatever. We may look around at work that doesn’t look very glorious and wonder, but we can know that any work done for God’s glory is not in vain. We will likely not see the fruits of our labors either, but we can trust the truth of His Word and know that He will accomplish His purposes and we’re blessed to be a thread in that glorious tapestry.

Wishing you a week of purpose, 

8 comments:

Faith said...

I just love all your faves and especially your thoughts on Tripp's quote!! Enjoy the weekend Laura!

Gattina said...

My son is an only child but fortunately he has very good friends if he has a problem to solve ! They know each other since Kindergarden and now they are all Daddies themselves !

Kathie said...

I know exactly what you mean about the brother bond - I love to see it among my 4 boys too. They all love their sister and are very good to her but there is something among the brothers that is sweet to see.

Interesting thoughts about Easter Monday - that's where our lives are lived now. Post Resurrection. Your quote is a good one - and takes faith to believe it and keep at it when you don't always see the fruit. It reminds me of Heb 10 where we're told not to throw away our confidence but to persevere.

Personally I think mothering, teaching and writing are the top 3 career choices ;)

Happy weekend!

Melissa said...

It's good to "see" you again, Laura!

I can relate to being excited about textbooks! We're homeschoolers, and I get excited whenever the books for the upcoming year arrive.

Teachers DO make a difference. I'll never forget my eighth grade English teacher, who encouraged me tremendously. I wrote to him, many years later, to say Thanks.

Barbara H. said...

I always loved getting new textbooks (and even school supplies!) Hope you new venture goes well!

I love that brother bond with my own guys as well. It's been fun to see them texting and Face-Timing since the new baby.

I so agree with what you wrote at the end. "Our labor is not in vain in the Lord." "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (Hebrews 6:10)

nikkipolani said...

I appreciate your encouraging words about the work we're engaged in now. Painful, arduous, and sometimes frustrating, it's good to know there are fruits in the future because God's hand is in it.

Susanne said...

Thanks for that encouraging word at the end of the post. That is perfect for me to hear at this time.

It must be difficult to say good bye to co-workers and students. I know saying goodbye to my dayhome families is extremely difficult at times.

Amy Sullivan said...

Textbooks? Textbooks? I actually love textbooks too.

I was just thinking about the whole idea of after Easter today. I'm not sure I've ever heard a sermon about the life of Jesus after he rose…but I'd like to.

Related Posts with Thumbnails