Palm Sunday

It wasn't just another Sunday today. Thank goodness.  It is Palm Sunday.  The start of Holy Week. The most HOLY of holidays.  Yet I am amazed each year how much time I spend preparing for Christmas, as compared to Easter.  It was Easter, when the WORK was finished.  When the PROMISE was fulfilled.  When the old was made NEW.  When the fallen was REDEEMED.  Oh Lord, how mercifully your people needed you then, how we need you now, and how we long for your return.

After finding my plan of activities for the week, I decided over the weekend I would blog about them...as a remembrance for our family. So, each day I'll have a bit about what we did this year to remember and celebrate the most sacred of holidays.

So, it wasn't just another Sunday.  Despite sleeping (or really not) on the couch all night with more than average pregnancy aches and moans, I got up and we were on schedule to be on time (dare I say early) to church.  This. Never. Happens.  Then, about 5 minutes from church (20 minutes from home) Emma projectile vomits.  Bless the child. She did give us some warning, just enough for me to use my 32 week cat-like agile abilities to crawl to the back seat with a zip lock and try to catch as much of the mess as possible.  But even my best efforts didn't make it a "clean" event, so around we turned.   One good car upholstery disinfecting (leather is worth every penny), one car seat cover, one smocked dress and one hour later, we loaded up again for attempt No. 2: the late service.  After all, it wasn't just any Sunday.  Ahh, success.

(timeout: Emma was feeling perfectly fine.  She just downed too much juice too quickly. We were definitely not spreading any germs to the nursery).

During the rest of the day, we tried as best we could to teach Emma about Jesus' ride into Jerusalem on the donkey. (Although, she was honestly more interested in making the donkey noises than anything else). I set the table with palm branches and she did enjoy waiving them and saying "Hosana" (or at least what sounds close to it).  It is a daunting task to undertake the "training and instruction" of children.  The facts come easy enough--but communicating the meaning of Jesus' royal entrance to the city? Well, I'm nearly 30 and I don't fully grasp it--how can I make that real for a two year old?  It is a whole new level of learning for me.

As the day rolled on, I found myself baking in the kitchen with the ipod going. I've mentioned before our love/obsession with Andrew Peterson's music.  Fittingly, I selected his album "Resurrection Letters Vol. II" for my listening pleasure.  Amazingly, I was overwhelmed how I felt listening to his song: Hosanna today of all days.    The very concept I was trying to impress on Emma.  How gracious that the Lord grants us so many different talents and skills--and how amazing when people like AP use them for HIS glory.  I've copied the lyrics below.

I am tangled up in contradiction. I am strangled by my own two hands. I am hunted by the hounds of addiction. Hosanna! I have lied to everyone who trusts me. I have tried to fall when I could stand. I have only loved the ones who loves me. Hosanna! O Hosanna! See the long awaited king come to set his people free. We cry O Hosanna! Come and tear the temple down. Raise it up on holy ground. 

Hosanna!

I have struggled to remove this raiment, tried to hide every shimmering strand. I contend with these ghosts and these hosts of bright angels. Hosanna! I have cursed the man that you have made me, as I have nursed the beast that bays for my blood. Oh, I have run from the one who would save me. Save me, Hosanna! O Hosanna! See the long awaited king, come to set his people free. We cry O Hosanna! Come and tear the temple down. Raise it up on holy ground. Hosanna!

You have crushed beneath your heel the vile serpent. You have carried to the grave the black stain. You have torn apart the temple’s holy curtain. You have beaten Death at Death’s own game. Hosanna! O Hosanna! Hail the long awaited king, come to set his people free. We cry O Hosanna! Won’t you tear this temple down, raise it up on holy ground. O Hosanna! I will lift my voice and sing: you have come and washed me clean. 

Hosanna.

What it must have been like to be among the crowd welcoming Christ into the city.  I pray I would have been among those lining the streets, but I fear my sinful soul doubts there would have been much evidence of the courage of my convictions.  Thank you Lord for paying that price for me. For taking it ALL.  

Sorry--no pictures tonight.  Maybe tomorrow.  It is: The Cleansing of the Temple day.