Why I Gave Up the Chocolate Bunny for The Cross
It’s Easter morning. I’m a teenager. Emotions are raging. My future seemed uncertain. A Scientology book sat on my desk in my bedroom—unread. The overriding imprint on my heart was fear. Fear and anxiety crippled me each day.
Easter had always been one of my favorite holidays growing up—memories of Easter baskets, my mom wearing an Easter bunny costume for our community, egg hunts, family feasting around the table, and the beloved chocolate…what in life is better than chocolate? As a young child I recall running out into the living room and finding a basket full of candy. It was the delight of my year. What day could be better than the day one finds candy packaged beautifully just for you!
Easter was the holiday my mother made very special for us kids. She always shopped at See’s Candies and there was always a tall milk chocolate bunny in our baskets. Always. When I was really young she would break up the chocolate in pieces the day after Easter and place the pieces in the refrigerator in a colorful bowl for us to snack on throughout the day. It was glorious! As I got older all the chocolate and candy were given with full access to consume at my own discretion. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.
Most years I would ration out the melt-in-your-mouth chocolate bunny and savor it one sitting at a time, starting with the ears, and then portioning the rest out for later enjoyment.
But on this Easter morning, being a teenager with fear and sadness and uncertainty, I ate the ears and then couldn’t stop. On this day/morning I consumed the whole 8.5-inches tall, 10-ounce bunny ALL AT ONCE. One bite at a time.
With an abundance of chocolate in my stomach and some still on my face I was nauseated-sick before our Easter feast, which I later indulged in as well. My biggest memory of that day was of feeling awful…really awful.
My belly was full but my heart was empty.
Today, everything has changed.
Because of…
The Cross.
The Cross lingers in my heart today, having found the love of Jesus decades ago. God became real to me and I surrendered my life to Him.
Romans 10:9 tells us, That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For me, fear melted away, and a new life began.
And the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where he was lying. And go quickly and tell his disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” – Matthew 28:5-7
“Do not be afraid.”
We do not need to carry fear and worry and anxiety. Jesus carries all of those things for us if we offer ourselves to Him. He died for me and He died for you. We do not need to be afraid.
And that book on my desk? I never read it.
For more from Lucille Williams check out her books The Impossible Kid: Parenting a Strong-Willed Child with Love and Grace, and for your marriage, From Me to We, and The Intimacy You Crave. And Turtle Finds His Talent for ages 2-6. We invite you to subscribe to LuSays today for regular encouragement.
Please pass this on to anyone who you think can use this message of The Cross.
