Easter - My Favorite Holiday

Alexis Jolé Palencia doesn't exist outside of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  While many people celebrate Easter as a spring holiday with bunnies and eggs (which is all fun), Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This is kind of the make it or break it part of your faith.  You either believe that he died, rose and proved that he is God or you don't.

25-year-old me kinda believed.  She believed that Jesus was God but...like not really.  If you met me at 25 I was a wreck, but I disguised it really well by drinking copious amounts of alcohol and blaming most of my bad decisions on being inebriated.  I left a path of destruction where ever I went in the form of broken people.  I chased all the wrong guys and drove the good guys away.  I self sabotaged almost every chance I got but I was young, vivacious, book smart and domineering so I got away with it.  I was the life of the party but only because I didn't think anybody would want me if I wasn't.  There was this constant pressure to please, entertain and be useful.  

Then came the resurrection.  I mean, it had already happened, but it became real in my life.  That was June of 2009, almost 9 years now since I said, "Okay Jesus, I'm going to try life your way, but if I don't like it, I'm going back to doing it my way."  Well, I haven't gone back to doing it my way and I'm really glad because I have this marriage that is so different from anybody else's.  It's not perfect by any means, but we are two imperfect people who have promised to not give up on each other.  It doesn't matter how we feel, because let me tell you, in 6 years of marriage there have been times neither of us have felt like we wanted to be married.  But out of that commitment a friendship and team has formed that has produced two of the cutest kids I've ever met.  And the old me would have never been able to be the mom these kids need and deserve because her way was so destructive.  But through getting to know the resurrected Jesus and the life he wants me to live, I have become stronger, wiser, kinder, more patient, and very aware of my own shortcomings so that I am not blindsided by them.

My kids are amazing.  They teach me so much everyday.  They bless me with their love, hugs, kisses and even temper tantrums because it gives me an opportunity to grow in patience and love.  And I would have been blinded to all of this if it weren't for the resurrected Christ.  I would probably be missing out on raising them because I was a work-o-holic who put my identity in achievement.  I would have never gotten married if not for the work done on the cross and our marriage would not be in tact today if the both of us didn't have this foundation especially because before Christ I would run out on a relationship at the first sign of trouble.

So Easter is my favorite holiday because it gave me a life worth living.  A life in which I'm content being me and I don't have to compare myself to others or earn anybody's love.  Because the greatest love of all, that of Jesus, has been given to me freely and without limitation.  And THAT love, frees me to love and care for others without expectation.

I hope you had a great Easter.