This is the first year in many that I've not colored eggs, hidden Easter baskets or been able to celebrate an Easter dinner with family in many years being on the road. I've read little this season of the real meaning of Easter from the media but did come across a funny article from MSNBC about 10 slightly crazy Easter gadgets for 2011. Who even thinks about an Easter gadget? One of the less outragious items is included below for the parent who doesn't want to abandon Easter egg hunts altogether but doesn't want to find that old egg month later in the house or yard.
JoJo Easter eggsIt used to be that you had to work to find those hidden eggs. Why, I remember stumbling upon the remnants of an undiscovered Easter egg well into May one year. It was quite a mess by that point, but that's the price of failure. Today's parents can coddle their children by getting the JoJo and Friends electronic Easter eggs. The eggs call out to the hunters to give them hints. Once discovered, the children can open up the eggs to reveal a character surprise inside. $29.99 — Amazon
To lead by example not only on this special Easter Sunday but all year, emulate the example of the person for whom this special day is to remember - our Elder brother and exemplar. One such person who practiced this Christian service daily was Jack McConnell, MD. He grew up in humble circumstances in southwest Virginia. He recounts that each day as the family sat for dinner, his father would ask each of the seven children "what they did that day to help someone in need." The children were determined not to disappoint their father and looked for opportunities to serve others. Dr. McConnell relates that this was his father's most important legacy - inspiring the family to have the inner desire to serve others.
Dr. McConnell had a distinguished medical career where he directed the development of the TB tine test, participated in the early development of the polio vaccine, supervised the development of Tylenol, was instrumental in developing the MRI; but most importantly in his retirement established the Volunteers in Medicine with now over 70 clinics across the US. While we can't all be Dr. McConnells, establishing medical clinics to help the poor, each of us can do something to lighten the load and help those in need.
King Benjamin provides a wonderful sermon on service - what we do for others, we do for God. He also talks about each of us being a beggar, owing all to God for our existence and our hope for redemption. His lesson of the beggar not extending to others his substance or service because he has little to share is appropriate for those now in job search. While we don't have extra cash, we do have time. While we may be heavily involved in our own struggles to find employment, we should not ignore those with less means and who have greater needs. The Savior taught his disciples: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."
Isn't that the lesson Dr. McConnell exemplified - losing his life for the service of others? In Matthew 25 the Savior teaches us: "For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty and ye gave me drink, I was a stranger and ye took me in, naked and ye clothed me, sick and ye visited me ..." The righteous shall answer, when saw thee hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked or sick? And the King shall answer ... "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of my brethern, ye have done it unto me."
While we all try and help those that have helped us, look for ways to partner with those that can help us in the future, the true sign of discipleship and service is doing it for the least of your fellowman who cannot return the favor or reward you for your efforts. When you discover that gift of giving as did Dr. McConnell, you will discover that feeling of peace and assurance that you've done it unto the Savior. He is why we celebrate this special day - not to coddle our kids with chocolate eggs or marshmallow bunnies.
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