Text Box: Friends in Christ, Which is easier to do, accept love, or give love? I will be honest, I am better at giving than receiving. Perhaps that is true for many of you. But the truth of the matter is, accepting love is as important as giving love. Today, I am going to learn to accept love. Many of you already know we lost our daughter Sarah in a car accident, at the age of seventeen, in 2007. Sadly, there are a number of us who understand what it means to lose a child. It stops your heart. Yet somehow, your heart continues to beat even though it is shattered into a million pieces. This year it will be twelve years, and this is the first time in twelve years that Sarah’s ‘angel-versary’ falls on Easter. This realization came to me last year in May, and I struggled with what to do, because as you might know, that day is a day filled with emotions. Not just tears, there is a lot of laughter in the day as well, but the day is consumed with memories and emotions. I struggled with this for some time, not sure what to do, and finally decided to talk with Bishop Clements in September. He suggested that I have someone else lead worship that day and recommended someone from the synod office. But I wasn’t sure if I should do that. I held onto it for a little longer. In November, I finally brought it up to our Council, who without hesitation, said that I should have someone from the synod office lead worship on that day. I wasn’t sure if I could do that. Finally, this past January I spoke with a colleague, giving him my thoughts on the entire matter, and here is what he told me. He told said…”accept the love that St. John’s so graciously offers.” So, this is what I am going to do; accept this beautiful gift of love. My family and I are so grateful and thankful for your love, not just this day, but every day. We are blessed to be a part of such a wonderful faith based community. So, I leave you in the capable hands of Pastor Marilyn Hanson, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. St. John’s, as always, will be in my prayers as we celebrate Easter Morning, when we discover once again that the tomb is empty. He has Risen! If you are like me, and not great at accepting love, perhaps this is something we can work on. Accept the love from others, and then, in return, share it two-fold. In His Peace, Pastor Debbie Dream Big, Everything is Possible with God!!