F is for Forgiveness

Many Easters ago our church sponsored an Easter egg hunt.  The children were all so excited; they could hardly wait for the service to end so they could fill their baskets with plastic eggs filled with candy.  We even had some visitors who had two adorable little girls who were ready to join in the fun.  The mom had purchased new dresses for the occasion.

Somehow, when no one was looking, some of the older kids decided to play a prank on the unsuspecting little ones.  They exchanged the candy in the eggs for stuff they found in the refrigerator... like mayonaise.

It was pretty awful when we realized what had happened.  I don't know if the perpetrators were punished, but needless to say, the new people never came back.  Eventually the families with the wrong doers also left the church.

Fast forward to today.  One of the offenders is back from Afganistan and will be joining my family tomorrow at our Easter service.  And I am so excited to see what the Holy Spirit will do.  I'm praying for miracle.

I want to be clear.  I don't know this young man's heart.  But Jesus does.  Just as he knows mine.  Jesus didn't dole out excuses.  He became the atonement for every sin- big or small.

Forgiveness.