Choosing New Life

For the past couple of decades, I’ve always had this thing about acorns and eggs.  I’ve collected many of both over the years, adding tiny bird eggs to nests I’ve found, or using acorns in a variety of simple projects. 

Not quite sure what the appeal is, but perhaps it is the symbolism I find attractive. Each represents new life, new beginnings.

Jesus’ resurrection provides new life for every believer and an egg represents this perfectly. No wonder eggs have been a part of Easter celebrations for years! (Sorry, the Easter bunny is not relevant.)

When experiencing trauma after betrayal, sometimes we are forced into a new normal, a new life. It takes a while before the shock wears off and healing begins, but later on after truth sets in, we can no longer deny we have choices to make while pursuing our new life.

We can:

1. choose to do nothing (which is a choice)
2. choose to have hope for healing and pursue it (for ourselves and our spouse)
3. choose healing for ourself (even when our spouse refuses help) 
4. choose to trust Jesus, the life-giver, who promises new life, regardless of our circumstances 

I love the verses in Psalms and Isaiah that refer to oak trees, perhaps because an oak tree’s beginning comes from an acorn. 

Isaiah 61:3 NIV describes what God promises He will do for those who need comfort in mourning.

“and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

When all of our hurts get boiled down to one emotion, what we are experiencing is grief. Grief is not limited to physical death. Grief is any type of loss, the price we pay for loving. 

The beautiful thing is, God promises to take our grief and replace it with beauty,  joy, and praise.

What will your choices be? Will they include Jesus? Next time you see an egg or an acorn, be reminded of God’s goodness and His promises for your new life. I pray you will have contemplative Holy Week and a blessed and beautiful Easter, filled with joy and gratitude, next Sunday!