While Easter has always been my favourite time of year, it seems to have taken on even more meaning for me after our trip to the Middle East last year. Walking in the places where the events of the Atonement took place have left deep almost tangible feelings impressed on me. I know you don't need to walk in these places to have feelings like this, but there is an undeniable feeling of sacredness as you walk in the footsteps of the Savior.
It was hard to hold back tears as we shared pictures and stories with our kids and reflected on our time in the Holy Land. While I say Easter has taken on even more meaning, the experiences we had in Jerusalem didn't actually change what I believe. They didn't make me suddenly realise that the Atonement happened. I already knew that. Without doubt. I guess what our trip did do, was open up the mysterious world of the Middle East and where the Savior lived. The smells, the sounds, the people, the Old City.
What an incredible powerful feeling is felt when you walk in Holy places!
While the garden tomb shown below is not the only candidate for the place where the Savior was laid, It's hard to imagine that it could be anywhere else. The thought that kept coming to me while we were there was this; It doesn't matter so much where it happened. What matters is that It happened.
He is not here He is Risen!
6 months on from our trip, I still think about the experiences we had in the Middle East every day and the impact they had on me.
I love going through the The last week of the Saviors life at Easter time! We see that as we try to place importance on the things that matter most, the Easter Bunny becomes secondary, and not the focus of this special reflective season.
Here are some beautiful touching small video clips of the Saviors last days and his resurrection that are suitable to be shared with all ages.
And this beautiful song with pictures is one that we listen to and watch every Easter. It is perfect for small children to help them see and feel something special.
Whatever your traditions are, we hope you had a lovely Easter!
**Some of the pictures above were taken by my incredibly talented Sister'n'law Alana who was also on the trip!!
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