Love Someone ~ Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! Today is a very special day where we have a chance to remember our Lord's sacrifice. Never let the story of the cross become rote for you, where you can tell everything that happened without even thinking about the Lord Jesus and what that meant for him. I'm sure there are tons of blog posts out there today that are talking about the true meaning of Easter but I am going to go a different route. I'm going to talk a little about the people that celebrate Easter.

Easter is a time where we gather together as a family and have a meal, possibly an egg hunt and chocolate bunnies. But have you ever stoped to think about the people who don't have anyone to share Easter with? This year I was almost one of that number. 

Really quick back story: After I came home from Naples last time I was really sad. I missed my family and friends and everything. I realized that if I want to be ok emotionally in Orlando that I can't go home for a while. I can't emotionally take uprooting myself every time I go back. 

So anyway on Saturday I was asked "Charissa, what are your plans for tomorrow?" to which I answered "Oh I am going to church." 

"Anything else?"

"Nope that's it"

"Oh...." the way they said this last part was like they thought that was the most depressing way to spend Easter. I would have to agree with them. I didn't plan a special meal that week and when I got home that night from teaching all day I was too tired to go out and get anything. I didn't want to decorate because it isn't fun to cook a huge meal and decorate only for yourself. It is more depressing because it reminds you that you are alone and you have no one to share it with. 

But it got me thinking about all the other people who spend holidays alone. Before I never really cared about people who didn't have a place to go. I would never have even considered going out of my way to talk to them or invite them to Easter meal. It was too foreign. Luckily for me this Easter my Aunt and Uncle invited me to come over for lunch and spend time with them. It was so nice to be with family yesterday :) 

Today the Lord has been whispering in my ear "Charissa, love someone else. Think about more people than just yourself. Step out of your way to love someone else today." So I have been really trying! And the more I try the more I realize how selfish I have been with my love while I have been here in Orlando. How I have not stepped out of my comfort zone to get to know people or love them. I have been waiting for them to make the first move and initiate conversation or get to know me without me being interested in getting to know them. 

With the Lord as my witness and help, I will start to intentionally love people. Step out of my way to smile at someone, give them a friendly hug, say hello or ask how they are doing and listen to their answer. I choose today to intentionally invest in the people who surround me. It will be hard... but when does God ever ask us to do anything easy?

Wow! I wrote a lot! To wrap it up quickly, I hope you had a wonderful Easter and that you show love to someone today. Love you!!