The Easter bunny wasn’t a part of Easter when I was growing up. I suspect it was considered sacrilegious, or maybe it just wasn’t my parents’ thing. But when my own daughter was old enough to understand, I wanted her experience everything the Easter bunny had to offer. So, as I put her to bed, I said, “Just think, Mary Susan. While you are sleeping, the Easter bunny will sneak into your room and leave you an Easter basket. Isn’t that exciting?”
She immediately sat straight up in bed and screamed at the top of her lungs, “NO! TELL HIM TO STAY AT THE MALL!” Suddenly I imagined that tall, scary creature with the big black emotionless eyes slowly creeping into her room, and she was right. That was a terrifying thought. I tried to explain, as best I could, who the Easter bunny was and why there was no need to be afraid, but I was stumped. Why did we have an Easter bunny, anyway? And what about the basket of eggs?
Nothing calmed her, so I decided to confess. “Here’s the truth, Mary Susan. There really is no Easter bunny. The whole thing is a big, fat lie!”
After a long pause and careful consideration, she screamed again, “TELL HIM TO STAY AT THE MALL!” That’s the year the Easter bunny died at our house and never returned. Sometimes I think bunnies and baskets of eggs are simply distractions because we can’t bear to think of what the Easter season really means. I hate to hear the agonizing stories of Jesus’ death on the cross. And I’ve never been able to watch movies that depict the ghastly details because it’s just too terrible to imagine – even though the resurrection story is so beautiful.
However, just because it made me uncomfortable was no reason to avoid it altogether – so this year I decided to read the accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion to perhaps find something new and personal to make it less agonizing. Turns out I found something that totally surprised and blessed me.
Apparently, I was so preoccupied with the ugliness of the cross, I never paid attention to what Jesus said while hanging there. But when I looked at it with fresh eyes, I found the four major cornerstones of our work at Blue Monarch – right there, tucked away in Jesus’ own words.
Forgiveness: Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Forgiveness is at the very heart of the great healing that takes place at Blue Monarch. With so much generational dysfunction and abuse, this statement is often very true. Often, the ones who have hurt the women and children of Blue Monarch really did not know what they were doing at the time. They grew up with that behavior. But through counseling and lots of prayer, our courageous women can forgive the ones who caused great pain, which then begins their own healing. Forgiveness is a powerful medicine.
Faith: When the thief next to Jesus said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” he responded, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” The thief was not a righteous man. He had lived a criminal life. But look how quickly Jesus embraced this man once he simply expressed his faith. That is why we see such huge emotion when the women we serve develop a personal relationship with Jesus. They are overcome with God’s forgiveness and grace. This, in turn, gives them more than sobriety and recovery. They receive true freedom.
Love: This is one that really moves me. When Jesus saw his mother standing there with the disciple, whom he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” The passage says from that time on, this disciple took Mary into his home. Just as Jesus charged this faithful friend with caring for his mother, whom he adored, he charges us with caring for the women and children he sends to Blue Monarch, whom he also adores.
But there is more. Because the disciple was so special to him, he wanted this man to likewise be blessed by serving his mother. He wanted both to benefit from their relationship together – just as we are blessed by God’s children in our Blue Monarch home.
Trust: Finally, this valuable cornerstone. After Jesus had completed his work on earth, had suffered on the cross to his final breath, he said, “It is finished.” At that point he left us with the Holy Spirit for guidance and discernment. One of the hardest things we experience is to watch our women and children walk out the door after we have poured time, heart, and soul into each of them. Even under the best of circumstances, it is sometimes a frightening thought that they will once again be on their own to make decisions and choices. However, we must remind ourselves that we have planted the seeds, and we must trust the Holy Spirit who will continue to be with them when we cannot.
So, who knew? For many years I avoided one of the most beautiful stories, when all along, there was a special letter waiting for me right there on the cross. I am grateful I finally uncovered my eyes and found Jesus’ message because something tells me, Easter will never look the same again.
Thank you, Jesus, for showing me the beauty in the cross – that even in your darkest hour and greatest pain, you spoke truth that would become treasures we need today. Amen.
—Susan Binkley, Founder, President of Blue Monarch
www.bluemonarch.org
Blue Monarch: a Christ-centered, long-term residential program for women and their children to overcome generational abuse and addiction.
