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In honor of this blessed holiday, I borrow the great Ladysmith’s reflections on Easter.
She said it pretty well, I think. In the busy-ness of this week, this season, let’s not lose sight of the most important event in the history of the world.
A long time ago, there was a sad, hopeless Friday, that turned out to be a good Friday after all. And then there was a better Sunday.
This cowdog has been reflecting on Good Friday and Easter. Good Friday – it is a simple, pleasing name to me. It sounds so pleasant from this side of the cross, but the day was anything but positive way back when it came into lasting importance. We still know it today because of the enormous price.
Good Friday is the day when Jesus was known to have been crucified and died. That afternoon was the saddest time ever in history, before and since. The one who came as Messiah to save the world, hung on a cross, said “It is finished”, and died there between two thieves. 
But it wasn’t over. He was buried in a tomb, wrapped in a hundred pounds of linen and spices, and enclosed by a massive boulder that weighed maybe 2 tons. But Sunday morning came, and his friends found the grave open and Jesus gone!
And then they saw the risen Christ, and everything that had been foretold for centuries was proven true. The resurrection on Easter morning was the celebration of all time, giving people a way back to God and heaven.
I don’t see how it could get better than that!
This cowdog thinks about the true reason for Easter on this Good Friday afternoon, when the sun clouds over, and certainly on that bright Sunday morning at “sonrise.” Seems like we’ve slipped a long way from that, into too much candy and bunnies.
But this is also a celebration of Spring and the renewal of life. This year, the ranch is buried in another week’s worth of fresh snowfall. There was bare ground and new smells, teasing us all with the promise of gardening, green grass and warm sunshine.Until the heartless winter returned.
I would like to be getting tired of mud by now.
We won’t be doing a doggy egg hunt, I guarantee that, but a lot of people do celebrate with the family canines. 
There is nothing wrong with another day to celebrate with dogs, I say. I like the idea of an Easter basket. And bunny cookies for me!
But remember, no chocolate bunnies for your favorite canine!
I helped the boys dye eggs; they turned out so beautiful, and they were mostly brown eggs from our own hens.
Then we had fun throwing the used egg dye out on the snow after. It was so pretty!
Mom does not dress me up in ridiculous outfits. This cowdog would only chew them up – I think my beautiful speckled red, white and blue coat looks just fine.
But if anyone can pull off the look, count on a cowdog to rock it.
It is too late to order an Easter outfit, thank goodness, but this is the season for raincoats.
and life jackets, too: https://amzn.to/3xuT3yv
I don’t like dressing, but I must stay it is nice to keep my coat dry. I don’t like mud in my paws at all, but I draw the line at wearing boots!
Of course, Easter is about the risen Lord, not a basket, or eggs, or a spring outfit.
It is a time to reflect and to celebrate.
Here is our joint Heeler list, previously A Ladysmith List, of our favorite ways to celebrate Easter:
- Go to church [I went to church accidently once, but that is a story for another day].
- Walk in the awakening country and enjoy Spring. Maybe this year, we’ll go sledding instead!
- Get together for a BBQ or Easter dinner – I vote for Ham.
- Have an egg hunt – limit the dogs – with our noses, we will find them all first.
- Have a picnic – again, maybe a snow party instead!
- Play fetch or Frisbie – or make snow angels!
- Go see an Easter Parade.
- Reflect on Good Friday and Easter.
- Remember the real reason to celebrate this day.
Remember what the angel reported on that day: “He is not here, for He is risen!”
Now that’s a Hallelujah for sure!
We wish everyone a Happy and Blessed Easter!
He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Matthew 28:6
