BECAUSE HE LIVES
(c) Bill Gaither
God sent his son,
They called him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died
To buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove
My Savior Lived!
Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
All fears are gone;
Because I know
He holds my future
And life is worth the living
Hailey Blu in her Easter Bonnet Just because He lives.
When we first married my husband Ken introduced me to Bill and Gloria Gaither. What a delightful couple with a musical heritage. I was thrilled because my favorite Easter hymn is Because He Lives, one that Bill Gaither penned. Well, maybe Handel's Hallelujah Chorus is my very favorite, but Because He Lives is a close second. Even when it is not Easter and life becomes difficult, I sing the words and this song very comforting. You will agree that life can become difficult; even unbearable at times. But we can rejoice, because He Lives! Jesus said, "I have overcome the world."
Easter is my very favorite holiday . . . I love everything about it . . . the resurrection story, the hope of the holiday, the coloring Easter eggs with my granddaughter Hailey and making resurrection cookies, one of our favorite traditions. You can find the recipe and other family traditions in my cooks co-authored with Alice Gray, Grandmother, Another Name for Love, Simon and Schuster, Keepsake for A Mother's Heart, and A Christmas Keepsake. I have also posted the recipe below.
You can imagine my sadness when I heard that a young woman in my husband's cancer group died this week, leaving her young son and husband to grieve for her. How tragic to die at Easter. But after much reflection I realized that Easter is the perfect time to die . . . with our focus on the resurrection bringing the hope of eternal life! Also with spring bursting first, the constant reminders of rebirth surrounding us, trees budding, flowers blooming, and brown grass turning green! Just as God brings the earth to life after the dead of winter, He will bring gus to live . . . . He defeated death at the cross. He lives, and so we live! The message of Easter is a message of hope and life.
May you have a blessed Easter with your family and celebrate that He Lives! And when life on this earth becomes overwhelming, just remember He lives within your heart!
Baking these cookies is a great way to teach your children and grandchildren the resurrection story!
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. |
