It is a regular struggle in our house. As much as Deanna and I try to teach and remind our kids, closing up food containers is something my kids seem to be allergic to in this life. They just can’t do it. Clip the chip bag. Seal the Tupperware. Use the twist tie on the bread. Fold down the bag of cereal and seal the box shut. Really, is it that hard?!
You can picture the scene, right? Craving a crispy chip with salt. Pulling a couple out of the bag and sinking your teeth into them, waiting for that satisfying crunch. Stale. Soggy. Gross. Sure, there are worse things in this life. But, most things are better than stale food that has gone bad because someone didn’t seal it up.
Preserving food is important. It’s why you can those veggies from your garden and why you tie off the end of the loaf of bread bag. You do your best to make things stay fresh as long as possible. During our first summer in Georgia, we learned how helpful a breadbox was on our counter.
How do you preserve things?
Still ringing in our hearts is the joyful Eastertide proclamation. Christ is risen! Alleluia! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! How do we preserve this hope-filled message? How do we cling to the hope that is so real in this worship of our risen Christ? How do we preserve the hope, joy, and promise of Easter?
Well, in short, we hold on to it differently than how we preserve our food. In fact, we don’t hold on to it at all. Preserving food is all about sealing things off, closing things tight, and keeping things bottled in. Preserving the goodness of God revealed in the empty tomb is all about leaving the lid off. It’s about opening up your heart to share with others. Preserving the hope and joy of Jesus is about sharing it, not keeping it.
Live into this hope for these days of Easter. Share the Good News. Express abundant love in surprising ways. Give yourself to others in acts of service. Let the open tomb open your heart to kindness, surprising and radical kindness. Because He lives we live too. And, because He lives, our call is to help others live.
How will you pour into others in the days and weeks ahead?
“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). How much does God love you? This Much—His hands were spread wide as they were nailed to the cross for you. Don’t hold onto that love. Don’t keep that love for yourself. Give it away. Lavishly. Pour it out on others. Those you know and love and those you don’t. Surprise people with your sacrificial gift of time and energy. Lend a helping hand. Be on the lookout for ways to help carry someone else’s load.
Not because you are trying to earn God’s love. You can’t. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you more. We give away this love because there is an unending supply. And the best way to keep experiencing the Lord’s gift is to share it. Share it abundantly. Give it away.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
