Three days - 3 things to give up

As I sit here thinking about the first Good Friday, I am reminded of what one of my children commented on this past week.  We were talking about Easter and Peyton asked, "Why would they call it GOOD Friday?"  As we chatted about it, he commented that really there was nothing good about what happened that day at all.  We chatted about Judas betraying Jesus. We also chatted about what Jesus went through on the way to His death, and how He KNEW all of these things were about to happen, yet He did nothing to stop it.  He did it all willingly.  We also talked about how still to this day, when we have taken God out of so many areas of our world, we STILL take a day off to celebrate Christ's birthday, and Christ's death.  "Why would people do that if they don't believe God exists, and they don't even want to follow God? Just for a holiday I guess."

As I've thought about that concept and what Christ gave up, I have wondered what I would be willing to give up - for even my family.  Christ gave His life.  When I think of that, it's overwhelming.  And when I think of the fact that He knew of everything that He would have to endure to go through that, it brings me to tears.  AND He would have done it even if it would only have been for me!  That's how much He loves me.

I expect I will never have to give up my life for my family.  But today, as I think about what Christ gave up to save me, I sit here thinking about what I can give up my family to make life better for them.  In some respects giving up my life would be easier.  In the end it would be heroic.  I'm sure it would make headlines.  "Mother gives up life to protect her family."  AMAZING!  But it's the little things that I'm thinking about.  The things that are "hoarded" right up in my heart that I'm not willing to give up.  It's those roots buried deep inside that cause rifts and tears.  That cause pain.  That cause tears in the very grain of the fabric that wraps up our family together.

And last night as I lay in bed, I wondered. . . what would I be willing to give up?  This stubborn, closed off, short fused Mamma.  What would I be willing to give up?  As I thought about it, I realized that Christ died for all those things that I find so difficult to give up.  His very death was because I am impatient, selfish, unglued, unforgiving person.  I'm hanging on to the very things - those very things that Jesus Christ shed His blood - gave His life for.  I'm STILL HANGING ON TO THEM!!!!

So today, for a moment, I will try to nail those things back onto the cross that Christ died on.  I won't take those sins back.  I will put them up there on the tree and say "Jesus - thank you for dying for THOSE sins."  What will you put back up on the cross today?  Those things that Jesus died for - what are you holding close - unable to give back?  What are you holding. . . hiding. . . unwilling to give up?

I challenge you to take three very specific things in your life.  One for each day of Easter.  One for every time that Peter betrayed Jesus - yet Jesus still forgave Him.  One for every part of the Trinity. One for every cross on that hill. Three things.  Here are mine:  1.  I'm going to give up the walls of protection that I've built around my heart and be vulnerable.  2.  I'm going to strive to hold my tongue from speaking things that are hurtful. 3. I'm going to strive to be a patient Momma and not come unglued.  Those are my three. Three days - three things. And I know I can't do it without Christ's help.  So I will focus on the fact that He died for those three things.  It's because of those three sins in my life, that He was willing to go through the pain and agony. . . the torture. . . and be hung on a cross.  For those three things. . . Those things that I find difficult to let go of.  He died for those.  Am I willing to give them up?

What are your three things?

As you focus on Christ's death and resurrection this year, here's a song you may have heard in the past - but done to the story of Christ's death.  I've always loved the sound of this song, and now it brought a whole new appreciation for it!