With the table set, the cooking food filling the house with the aroma of a delicious hot turkey dinner, and our helper Carlyle making sure everything was ready, we awaited the rest of the family for our Easter dinner.

Being together is wonderful, and a turkey dinner is just what this guy ordered! Maybe requested is a better way of saying that. Words are important. How we express ourselves needs some thinking and discipline. Amanda amazes me how she helps her children find the right way of expressing their frustration, or anger, or in their problem solving. She’s very disciplined in this!

I was thinking about our language as it relates to the story of Jesus and His death and resurrection. The disciples expressed themselves boldly prior to the crucifixion – “we will never deny you – we will die with you.” And then came the moment when the guards arrive, some 250 soldiers with the Chief Priest and elders of the synagogue…and they turned tail and ran as Jesus said they would.

Come the third day, come the meeting of Jesus with the disciples and His focus is not on their failure, though He would have been justified in accusing them of being “turncoats” or “traitors”. He might even had decided to tell them that they had disappointed Him. He does not. Instead Jesus breathes on them, exhorts them to not to be afraid, to be assured that He lived and reigned over death. He encouraged them to be assured of His promise. He had returned to them after the resurrection and one day He would return again.

No wonder the Apostle Paul was so sure Jesus would return shortly – he even went as far as to tell his readers not to marry because the time was short.

History shows us that we can never be so sure. Yet here we are all these centuries later still waiting. Am I doubtful. Not one bit.

Paige was feeling a bit down this weekend and said she just wanted to stay home on Sunday morning and be a family together for Easter. Amanda explained in such a lovely and understandable way that we needed to go celebrate because the whole reason for Easter was about Jesus.

And our celebration was lovely on Sunday morning with ribbons and song and celebration.

“On the first day of week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb….” And she did not find Him, she did not even recognize Him at first, but she sure did recognize His voice when He spoke her name.

There is power in words – in the spoken word.

She knew at that moment it was Jesus.

I’ve wondered about heaven – and if the first thing we might know or hear is our name? I have no evidence we do or what happens when we “arrive”….whatever that looks like. But I do believe that the words of “Well done, good and faithful servant.” are words we will hear.