Easter Sunday this year was special for many reasons. Most importantly, because as Christians we celebrate that Jesus rose from grave. The day was even more special since I got to celebrate with my two precious children, Roan and Mary Morgan. I am blessed they have true hearts for God and His word at the young ages of eleven and seven.
The weekend was spent with Mama in my hometown of Savannah, Tennessee and attending First United Methodist Church, the church I attended as a child. We know just about everyone who attends on a regular basis and it’s really more like attending a big Sunday school class than it is a church service. I saw old friends I had not seen in years, their growing families in tow. I stopped often as we walked out of the sanctuary to rekindle old friendships, as well as greet those I see on whenever I attend. The time it took to “meet & greet” took almost half as long as the service itself.
On the ride home, my son Roan patted me on the shoulder and said, “Daddy, we got out of church five minutes early today and didn’t even take advantage of it. You always stop and talk to everyone you know on the way out.”
He was right. An eleven year-old boy wants to take advantage of our early dismissal to hurry home, while his Dad takes his time shaking hands and talking to friends – an eternity for a boy who wanted to shed his “church clothes” for the freedom of shorts and a t-shirt, to ease a stomach that has growled throughout the service and throw the baseball with his Dad on a warm spring day.
I laughed when I heard his comment and responded by saying, “Yeah Roan, I know. But there will come a day when I’m an old man and I’ll be saying the same thing to you as you’re talking to everyone you know on the way out.” Like father like son.
I’m fortunate to have spent the day with my family worshiping our Savior’s resurrection. We still had plenty of time for a great lunch and a long session of fielding ground balls. Plus, I’m thankful to have so many friends in all my church homes to spend time in fellowship with on this or any other day.
