Faith Seeds & Ukrainian Easter Eggs
Hello my lovelies,
Saddened by recent world events, I want to share this personal story of a long-forgotten memory from about 40 years ago that came back to me in the middle of the night recently, seemingly out of nowhere.
When my husband Steve and I were young marrieds in our 20s living in a tiny town of Nebraska where Steve was working as a junior banker, Steve met a guy through his work, Phil, who invited him to the local Optimist Club, of which Phil was President. They quickly became friends, and because Steve helped Phil so much with projects in the Optimist Club, Steve was awarded the Optimist of the Year Award.
Eventually we met Phil's wife, Anna, and they graciously invited us to their home for Easter dinner. I remember them showing us how they had made the most beautiful Ukrainian Easter eggs! Never before had I seen such beautiful works of art on an egg. We also enjoyed a memorable Easter dinner at their home as they told us stories about their Christian Orthodox faith traditions, and we shared stories of our Christian Episcopal/Anglican Easter traditions with them.
To learn about other cultures through real-life people has always been such fun for me and Steve!
Both of our families eventually moved to other towns for our work, and we lost touch with Phil and Anna as so often happens in our very mobile and busy world.
But ...
When we plant a faith seed of kind hospitality like Phil and Anna did for us by inviting us to their home for Easter dinner and Christian fellowship, we never know how we might impact another human being for good and to also inspire them to pass it on to others.
Christians are called to sow the seeds and God ultimately does the faith work according to His purposes.
As the literal hell of evil swirls tragically and wrongly in the world today, and Easter is once again approaching, I leave you with these thoughts ...
"I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fear for today nor our worries about tomorrow -- not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below -- indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8: 38-39, New Living Translation, The Bible
Want to give your hand a try at decorating your own Ukrainian Easter eggs?! This looks fun!
Or join me in buying Ukrainian Easter eggs as a tiny act of love and support to the courageous Ukrainians right now.
Or perhaps you'd prefer a beautiful art print/photo instead.
I am also going to make a donation for the Ukraine humanitarian crisis today if you'd like to join me.
Learn more about Ukrainian Easter traditions.
Thank you, friends Phil and Anna, wherever you may now be, for sharing your lives and faith and beautiful Easter eggs with us 40-some years ago.
We pass it on.
Sending all who read this the hope of faith in Jesus Christ,
Kathryn