Each person should judge his own actions and not compare himself with others. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done. Galatians 6:4

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Happy Easter to you all! Easter to me represents one of the most important holidays. I can't stress enough to those around me why it's so important. OUR KING HAS RISEN! What more could anyone ask for? NOTHING!

Normally when I blog, I blog about the fun stuff I do.. the things I've made.. what the kids have been up to. I normally don't talk about the disappointment I some times feel when it comes to family. But today I do want to share something that lies heavy on my heart. I don't want to come off sounding like a BRAT either...

When I was growing up we did NOT have Christ in our home. PERIOD. However our family got together on the holidays and got a long for the most part. I remembered the Easter Baskets... the cupcakes my gram would make.. spending time with my cousins and searching for Easter Eggs... Seemed my cousins were always the lucky ones to get the ones with MONEY.. LOL LOL..and I'll never forget the year my older sister ATE my WHITE BUNNY!!! she snuck it and ATE IT!!! CREEP!! LOL LOL!!

Now that I'm older and I have found Christ... Easter means something more.. and something different... He died on that Cross to give me.. and who ever else wants it.. eternal life! There is NO greater gift in this world!

Here's where my human feelings come in to play.. Eight years ago.. we bought our home and I was SUPER excited to invite the family to my house for Easter! We finally worked hard to buy our home. Hubby and I BOTH worked hard. We never had to live with our parents as his siblings did... we saved and worked on becoming debt free while still living on our own. I was so proud of hubby and his accomplishments for us... I decided that first Easter I wanted EVERYONE to come to our home and have a great dinner with us and an Easter egg hunt.

I invited family.. and the words that came out of my MIL mouth brought me to almost tears "Why would you want to do a dinner.. we never do dinners on Easter that is our nap day"...My heart sank... my dear fellow blog readers.. she WHINED about this dinner for almost two weeks every time I talked to her. Telling me it wasn't her tradition.. they never did this.... etc.. She really broke my heart.. and made me feel that my home wasn't good enough.. and I shouldn't have not even bothered to ask. More heartbreaking is they are suppose to be the example of Christian Love for their family. In the years that have passed I have come to realize that my in-laws church family is more near and dear to them then her children's family. ( at least this son's)...

When they "stop by" .. because they never visit... I ALWAYS hear my mil say.. "oh we got to go.. we have to hurry..." but it's always under her breath a couple times before she comes out and says it... Does she not think I don't hear it?? Does she not realize that the last two times she stopped she's been this way? The ONLY time they stay for any length is on Christmas.... and to me that feels like an "obligation" to them.

It's sad when they will drive 9 hours one way to visit two grandkids and a brother for three days... and not stop and spend an hour with grand kids that live 15 minutes away. In truth they spend more time with grandkids in three states away then they do with grandkids 15 minutes away. They just don't know my kids.. PERIOD! and don't try!

Sooo this Easter.. it's dinner alone with my sole family. I have given up inviting family to my home because in truth... to them it's not good enough. I don't sit in a million dollar home and because my hubby is a blue collar worker... well... to them.. he'll never make it anywhere in life... Little do they know if they opened their eyes... they would actually see how far he has come! But instead their focus is on their church family... because let's face it... because if you sit on a church pew every week.. that makes you a Christian... RIGHT??? Forget the outreach and living by example... RIGHT?...

So this Easter... spend time with your family.. LOVE them.. and TELL them... our lives are GIFTS... When the day comes when my children have families.. and loved ones.. they will always know that our doors will be open ANYTIME... and we will always come together if possible!! My heart aches for those who can't see what they have right in front of their faces! I believe each of us is God's gift to one another!



7 comments:

Trish D said...

It's sad when our earthly families let us down - but focus on the wonderful thing that your Heavenly Father has done for you!! You're raising your children right, and I'm sure deep down your in-laws know that (and frankly, it probably makes them uncomfortable, because it challenges their little comfort zone)

Wendy said...

Oh...I am so sorry!! I have never met you guys and I know how wonderful you all are. I was sitting here crying for you...the holidays can bring out so many emotions in people when it comes to family!! Enjoy your day with YOUR family because you know they want nothing more than to be with your...**HUGS**

Linda said...

I'm sorry that your in laws treat you and your family this way. I hope you and your family have a wonderful and blessed Easter.

Susanne said...

I'm so sorry that you guys experience this with family. I hope you have a beautiful, meaningful holiday in spite of it.

Mere said...

My dear, I am so PROUD of you that you found Christ and celebrate Easter as it should be. People like you MIL should be prayed for. They can't help themselves. You are such an awesome person. Love ya! ~Mere

Cris said...

Terry, I am so sorry to hear that. Since church is so important to her, maybe she should read 1 Corinthians 13.

I can certainly relate. And I would certainly be upset and hurt too.

Tam said...

HMMM at least your MIL has seen your kids..lol My sense of humor. My MIL just flat out refuses and get this...She called our house two times on Easter Sunday and when I picked up the phone twice she hung up on ME! So the third time she called my hubby got it and she spoke to him! She did this at Christmas also hanging up until he answered. It makes me so so so mad. My husband took her side at Christmas and said that something was wrong with her phone! ONE EASTER I looked at him and said HER PHONE IS STILL NOT WORKING RIGHT WHEN I ANSWERED BUT I guess she figured it out the third time when YOU answered. He did not find this one bit as amusing as I DID! LOL So yes I feel your pain!