How can you survive when Easter is difficult? Maybe you’ve asked yourself this question after the loss of a relationship through death or divorce. I understand. I’ve asked myself this question over the years and tried different options. Let’s look at three of them. Perhaps they will help you not only survive but also thrive when Easter is difficult.

First, you can survive with realistic expectations of yourself and others.

You probably didn’t marry and divorce the same person within a day. Yes, exceptions exist, but most occur at least one to three years later. One woman told me that she married and divorced three spouses. She survived and thrived when she determined to stand firmly on her own two feet and seek a better life. She said she realized marriage was not for her and that she had been in love not with the person, but with “the idea of being in love.”

After the loss of a relationship through divorce, I survived and thrived with my eyes wide open. When I considered dating someone, I asked myself, Will this person love and respect me? Will this person encourage me to develop my talents, gifts, and interests? I journaled about those two questions for months. I also asked myself another question if something happened to me, and I needed a caretaker, even short-term, Would this person have the integrity to care for me, or would he bail out and leave me alone?

Second, you can survive with “goodies” for someone else’s Easter basket.

I woke up on Tuesday morning in a pity party mood. Poor me. No one would put goodies in my Easter basket. Gracious, I don’t even have one anymore.

A few hours later, a friend called me. She’s facing surgery soon, but she remembered I had received a door prize at one of her online parties. She mailed it and said, “You’ll have it Friday or Saturday.”

Conviction set in, and I knew I could call or text a couple of friends. I could also mail a card to another. The pity party vanished, and I felt better.

Perhaps you don’t have money for cards, postage, or treats for your own children or grandchildren. You can do inexpensive crafts together with clothespin puppets or paper doll finger puppets, play board games together, or if the weather permits, play baseball or hide and seek outside. Distance may make a live visit impossible, but many free online methods provide a substitute. For free “printables” of crafts, games, and lyrics plus pages of fun recipes, check out https://supersimple.com

Third, you can glow with thoughts of your eternal Easter basket.

Yes, after this life on earth, you and I can meet our loved ones in heaven and fill our baskets with the blessings of a new name, and a new song (Isaiah 56:5; Isaiah 62:2, Revelation 2:7, 11; 3:12; and 14:3). We’ll have a new body with no more aches and pains and no more fatigue. No more tears and goodbyes.

We sure won’t miss the heartaches and tears. With all the new things to look forward to, you and I can glow with thoughts of the afterlife. Imagine what it will be like when we once again see late family members, former coworkers, childhood friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. What a glorious reunion that will be.

And we will see Jesus the Messiah again. Talk about dancing and shouting for joy. Save me a tambourine, cymbals, and an autoharp. I will join the party and dance on the streets of gold.

Related Internal Link:

Has Spring Sprung with Resurrection and Redemption for You?

Related External Link:

https://www.education.com/resources/easter/ 

Conclusion and Next Step

In conclusion, here are the three ways you can survive when Easter is difficult:

• With realistic expectations of yourself and others
•  “Goodies” for someone else’s Easter basket
• With thoughts of your eternal Easter basket

Be on the lookout on my website for an announcement about my new group, A Better Life For You. You’ll receive encouragement, support, and accountability. The group will start in June 2021. If you’re the one divorced, let me know. If you know someone who is, let me know that, too.

Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega March 31, 2021