As a young mother, I spent a lot of time preparing for Easter. I loved choosing and filling an appropriate themed Easter basket of the year for each of my sons. The teacher in me filled my home with springtime decorations and my Easter dinner table was beautifully arranged. The menu was planned with seasonal favorites but also incorporated the tastes of the picky eaters that I catered to. New “church clothes” were carefully laid out so we wouldn’t be late on Easter morning.

I was ready.

And yet as I look back through the lens of many years, I had overlooked the most important part of Easter . . .

I had not prepared my heart.

In the hustle-bustle to-do lists, I had overlooked the profound sacrifice of My Heavenly Father. I chose to ignore the pain of Jesus’ suffering on the cross. “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” was just a rousing song that we sang in church on Easter morning.

Thank you, God, for the privilege of growing older.

Thank you for the gift of days that give me the depth of appreciation for all you have done for me as I celebrate this Easter.

Today, the day before Easter, I will spend time preparing my heart.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” – Colossians 3:2

Patti