~~A Special Guest Post Written by my Mom, Debbie Roque~~
Way back yonder in the “good old days”, some of my fondest
memories were at Easter. Easter was a wonderful time. Let me introduce you to a
bit of my past. Now that I am “old”, my mind wanders at times into memory-lane...
😊 The
good memories.
My feisty five-foot mama made sure we got some church in us.
It was a long walk, but I don’t remember minding it at all. There was a sweet
smell in the air; everything seemed to be blooming, I remember passing all the
neighborhood houses and the steeple bell ringing in the distance. How simple
life was. We had our little Easter hats on, with the elastic bands and the
little ribbons flying in the breeze. My little brother had his bowtie on.
Almost everyone dressed their best. We believed it was irreverent not to.
Easter morning was one of the most special days of the year. Some day our
“EASTER MORNING” will come and oh, what a happy day that will be!
Now mind you, I didn’t always have a new pair of shoes on
Easter. My mama didn’t have much money, but when she had a little extra, she’d
buy us a new pair of shiny patent leather shoes, because it was a special day.
I must say the excitement of new shiny shoes was exhilarating, to say the
least.
I remember arriving at church, seeing people walking,
smiling, coming from all different directions while the church bells were
ringing. I can still hear the bells! 😊 Two of
my sisters and I would sing in the little choir loft that held a handful of
elderly people. Funny how fast time has flown; now I’m elderly. 😊 I
would try to hide behind one of the elderly women because I was somewhat shy. I
can remember sitting in the pew and seeing the sunlight streaming through the
stained-glass windows. We would sing that great hymn: “Christ the Lord is Risen
Today – Hallelujah!” The pastor was a sweet, jolly, somewhat-older man. He
smiled and shook our hands as we walked out of the church.
Good memories last a lifetime. Memories are good for the
soul, especially the older you become, the more you ponder and reminisce, and I
pity the person who doesn’t! 😊
The Easter bonnet contest that took place with the hunt was
so exciting. I couldn’t wait to make my hat about two weeks before. I believe
the Easter bonnet hats had to be homemade. Now folks, understand my mama didn’t
have much, and was somewhat preoccupied with difficulties and so I could come
and go as I pleased up to a point. I was quite determined to create a
“masterpiece” Easter bonnet with all kinds of odds and ends, little do-dads,
pieces of paper, etc., until the hat pretty much looked like a very tall
steeple on top of my head!
On the day of the hunt, my sister and I arrived at the
school. I had my homemade hat all prepared. Lots of kids were there. I arrived
to see such an array of beautiful hats with flowers and all kinds of creations.
Different nettings, bright colors, etc. I wasn’t intimidated in the least. I
wanted to win a prize. We all gathered in a huge circle and walked slowly as
the judges made their decisions. I was trying very hard to hold that hat in
place on my head from falling! 😊
The childlike person in me wasn’t distracted by those
beautiful hats, I was really proud of my towering steeple! When my sister and I
talk about it now, well over fifty years later, we start laughing and laughing.
I always ask her the question, “Why didn’t you tell me my hat looked so
‘different’ from the others?” She was always the one my other sisters and I
looked up to because of her maturity. Her answer is, “I don’t know; I wasn’t
even thinking about it.” Then we start laughing again until our sides ache and
tears run down our faces. Then when I catch my breath, I lovingly rebuke her
for not telling me how comical my hat looked! 😊 Then
we laugh some more. Good memories. We all have them – something to talk about
as the years have passed.
Now, mind you, I did win a prize! YES! Whether the
judges pitied me or not, I was the proud recipient of a box with a chocolate
fruited egg in it. I was so proud of that hat and so ecstatic. The simplicity
of being a child. It certainly was an “original”, and wasn’t the Lord good to
me! 😊 I felt
like I was in heaven with that little prize.
Now my sister left the school because they were ready to
finish up the event, but I still lingered because someone said that a prize egg
had been left in the woods. And so once again I was determined to find that
prize egg, even though the hunt was over! 😊 I
truly believed it was out there, and I think it’s still out there! 😊 😊
My sister came back to tell me to come home for supper – and
why in the world was I still there? I told her that I was still looking for the
prize egg. Yes, my friends, I was still searching for the prize! 😊 My
sister and I laugh about that, too.
And so, my friends, what good memories do you have?
“Find
rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.” Psalm 62:5a
“Behold,
I am coming soon!” Revelation 22:7
