What is the Life Verse "My Redeemer Lives"

Do you see people smiling today, and walking with joy in their hearts? Do we feel our burdens are lifted as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ? Today on Easter Sunday we shift our attention from the economy, pirate ships, job losses and violence and focus on our family- the Family of God. God, the Father who created life, gave us the gift of salvation and the resurrection of Jesus. God gave us hope and faith and peace. We smile today and walk with that joy in our hearts because we know that we have accepted his gift of love.

As young children hunt for color Easter Eggs, older children seek gifts of worship and parents enjoy sneaking a bite from the chocolate Easter Bunny…we celebrate Easter Sunday with those who believe in the resurrection of Christ. We join together with our families and fellowship in Church, joyful of this day. We pass on the tradition of the Easter Brunch, Easter Egg Hunt, Easter Dinner and Easter Prayers to our children and grandchildren. Kids are wearing their Easter clothes, families are documenting the day with photos and fun. It’s Easter and we celebrate with joy.

In my California home, we plan our Easter celebration with excitement in our hearts. A few weeks ago, we found wooden eggs at the local craft store, and I watch my children decorate the eggs with colorful paint. Since the eggs are wooden, we know we’ll enjoy looking at them year after year as the remind us of past celebrations. I like these wooden eggs, purchased for just 50 cents, because they do not have the odor of the  real eggs and the artwork can be saved. We’ve enjoyed looking at the decorated eggs as they perch inside a basket of grass on the kitchen table. My kids are older, so each year their Easter Basket matures in content. When they were little I created baskets with their favorite things, such as bathtub toys, books, and fluffy things. This year, they received a functional “Tote Bag” filled with valuables any tween kid would enjoy. Their baskets were filled with books, art supplies, jewelry and candy. And, year after year, they always get a fluffy bunny inside their basket. My younger daughter likes those Littlest Pet Shop Toys, so her sister purchased some with her own money and included them in the Easter Basket.

While it is easy to get lost in the commercialism of the Easter holiday, I was reminded of the true value of this celebration by my seven year old daughter. 

As I was busy making her meal, she said to me “Mom, I still remember my Bible verse from school this week. Do you want to hear it?”

It was an opportunity to drop everything and give her my full attention, so I got down to her level and looked into her huge blue eyes.

“Sure, honey, I want to hear it,” I said.

In her squeaky little girl voice, she said “I know that my Redeemer lives. Job…um..Job  19:25.” She gave me a really huge smile.

I replied, “Hey Cricket, look at the necklace I’m wearing. What does it say?”

She pulls the necklace away from my shirt and reads the words written on the circle pendent. Slowly she starts..”I know that..” and she ends with excitement “…my Redeemer lives!”

“Mom, you’re wearing MY Bible verse!”

“You’re right,” I said, “go look at the necklace your sister is wearing.” So she runs to her sister and after gaining permission to look at the necklace on her shirt, she shrills, “It’s the same verse. You’re both wearing MY VERSE.”

Though this was a small interaction of my day, it was a huge imprint in  my heart and that of my child. She knows that her Redeemer lives, and that both her Mom and Sister agree. What an affirmation for a seven year old child!