Farewell to Spring Break

We didn't watch a movie today, but we did go to Barnes & Noble. After a fabulous time there during which my son got to see several baby chicks and got to hold one of them (outside the store, in the mall), we went to lunch with my mother and later, hung out with her for a while at her house.

It has been a wonderful day and a fabulous week!

We've watched movies, slept in, had fun at Barnes & Noble a couple of times, and just had carefree time together. Tonight, my son will spend the night with my mother and I will go to the Tenebrae service at church. It's a little too powerful for young children.

But my son and did talk our way through this "last week" starting with Palm Sunday, so he knows the day Jesus was crucified and that yesterday was Passover, during which Jesus celebrated a last supper with his closest friends before telling them a very poignant goodbye.

During last week's homeschooling, he read several chapters in John and said he almost cried because it was so moving! I wish I could play a song by Bryan Duncan which really expresses the mood of those chapters...

I would like to say
Just before I leave you
I'll be back someday
And with me, I will take you
You will not suffer long
Only watch and pray
And wait for my return

Please know that I love you
I'll stay by your side
If only now in spirit
I'll still be your guide
You will not suffer long
And I've suffered for you
I love you with my life

Beautiful lyrics!

Hopefully, I'm remembering them exactly right. I tried to find the YouTube video but couldn't. But it is one of my favorite Easter songs, along with "The Easter Song" performed by both Keith Green and 2nd Chapter of Acts.

Anyway, what a lovely week!

And I expect a weekend just as powerful.

Losing Jesus

Last night, at the Good Friday service, I was struck by a sense of loss! I felt like I'd been spending the past couple of months, give or take, following Jesus around, listening to what He had to say, thinking about His message and celebrating everything He means to us. And here I was, at a sort of wake, thinking about His death, thinking about Him saying goodbye.

The passage in John, the long goodbye, kept flashing into my mind and I just really felt the "don't leave us" sadness of it all!

So, thinking in that vein, Saturday must have been truly awful for the disciples! Emptiness, loneliness, grief.

When I first heard this song by Bryan Duncan, maybe 20 years ago?, I was struck by that same sense of grief and sadness. It seems appropriate today...

Love You with My Life

I would like to say
Just before I leave you
I'll be back some day
And with me I will take you
So do not be afraid
Only watch and pray
And wait for my return

I've done what I must do
My work here is completed
It's all been done for you
Believe what I have stated
I will give you peace
Through all your tribulations
Until I come again

Please know that I love you
I'll stay by your side
If only now in spirit
I'll still be your guide
You will not suffer long
For I have suffered for you
I love you with my life

I'll prepare a place
Where we can live together
I'll meet you face to face
To share our new forever
Don't let your love grow cold
And I will not allow
What's more than you can bear

Please know that I love you
I'll stay by your side
If only now in spirit
I'll still be your guide
You will not suffer long
For I have suffered for you
I love you with my life

Love you with my life,
love you with my life,
love you with my life

Love you with my life,
love you with my life,
love you with my life, ....