The truth about the Easter Bunny (and Santa too)

Hopefully this won't completely embarrass the beautiful young woman that God has blessed me with as a daughter, but this story shows so much of her heart - and so much of how I think we should come to God in gratitude.

When my daughter was about 6 or 7 we were getting ready for Easter. Her birthday is in April, so most years, Easter is close. Always a lot going on between home, birthday preparations and gifts, church preparations, Easter bunny gifts and whatever else craziness was happening in our life at the time.

Somehow, in all the rush, she realized that Mommy was really stressing out over things that had to be done, and put it together in her head that I was making the Easter bunny happen too. It wasn't something I didn't have to worry about. She asked me "Mommy, are you the Easter bunny?"

Stop, breathe, decide how to answer . . .

"Yes baby, I'm the Easter bunny. Does that make it less special for you?"

Her response will remain in my heart for the rest of my life.

"No Mom, it makes it more special, because its you and you do so much other stuff too."

Oh yes - I hugged that child. Big time.

That's how I feel about my Lord. Every little miracle, every thing of beauty I see - I know it comes from Him. I don't believe that in happenstance - I believe that God is especially fond of me (of all of us - see John 3:16) and that makes everything that much more special. Every laugh, every friend, every joy, even every tear, comes from His hand for me, His child. That makes me feel very loved.

Now the funny ending to the story.
After our little moment over the Easter bunny, she was walking away, then stopped - turned - looked at me and said:

"Santa Claus too?"

"Yes sweetie, Santa Claus too."

And with a heavy sigh and "I thought so" retreated to her room to process these revelations.

You know, we really don't need fairy tales, we just need to know who loves us.

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. Luke 10:21

Pray for the folks in OK

Ardmore, OKLAHOMA (BNO NEWS) -- At least 9 people have died after a large tornado devastated Long Grove in Oklahoma last night, Carter County Sheriff Ken Grace told BNO News on Wednesday.

Sheriff Grace told BNO News that at least 9 people were now confirmed to have died after the storm struck the city. Some reports say that sirens in Long Grove did not work, leaving the residents unprepared as an F5-tornado raged through the city.

"It's like a war zone down there, a war zone," the sheriff told BNO News. He said more than 50 people have been injured and that at least 81 people are missing at this time. Rescue workers are continuing the search for survivors and casualties, he added.

http://www.bnonews.com/news/105.html