Good Friday

Today is Good Friday.

I had some plans that worked and some that didn’t quite pan out.

I tried to pull away enough today to remember.

And I had some plans to help the kids to remember.

I fought through conflicting interests to pull our evening together.

There were compromises.

We broke homemade bread together.

But we didn’t make it together.

We went for a walk.

We didn’t finish the Easter tree.  (There’s still tomorrow, and next year.)

We ended our Good Friday watching a movie about Ruby Bridges, a little girl who faced a mob.

Her mama told her to remember that Jesus faced one too.

As my little (and not so little) ones put their heads to pillows, I prayed that they might be like Ruby.

And choose to embrace the cross.

Good Friday’s hymn from The Divine Hours:

In the cross of Christ I glory,

towering over the wrecks of time;

All the light of sacred story

gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life overtake me,

hopes deceive, and fears annoy,

Never shall the cross forsake me.

Lo! It glows with peace and joy.

When the sun of bliss is beaming

light and love upon my way,

From the cross the radiance streaming

adds more luster to the day.

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,

by the cross are sanctified;

Peace is there that knows no measure,

joys that through all time abide.

In the cross of Christ I glory,

towering over the wrecks of time;

All the light of sacred story

gathers round its head sublime.

John Bowring