Easter - a season of hope and joy

This time last year I began my Easter blog with, “This is my favourite time of year. I love Easter, but this is going to be an Easter like no other.” Little did I realise that twelve months on Easter isn’t going to be very different to last year. I’ll still be attending church services virtually thanks to social distancing rules but at least I’ll be with my mum this year. This time last year there were no support bubbles so I’m truly grateful for the fact mum and I can celebrate Easter together. And of course this year we know that we are on the journey out of the pandemic. We have a road map. I’m not sure how I would have coped if as I wrote last year I’d realised that this Easter wouldn’t be so very different!

But no matter what it doesn’t change the joy of the season. The message of hope and love. Even if you are of a different religion or of none I think that spring itself is so full of that hope and joy. Whether Easter means the joy of the resurrection or Easter bunnies and chocolate eggs, or indeed both we can share in the joy of the turning of the year, of new life, new birth and light and warmth.

Last year my Easter was tinged with the sadness of a very sick grandfather and the first Easter without a dear friend who had died the summer before. This year we will be fast approaching the first anniversary of grandad’s death but I know he wouldn’t want us to be sad. He’d want us to be making the very most of our lives and enjoying all the small pleasures. I’m writing this with a bunch of beautiful daffodils on my desk next to my laptop. They look so cheerful and smell so lovely. The thing is we could all choose to focus on what we can’t do this long bank holiday weekend and what we’ve lost in the last year but I’m going to choose to focus on what I do have and what I can do. The virtual church services, the shared meals with my mum, time in the garden (fingers crossed for good weather), video calls with family and friends, the walks in the nature reserve and eating chocolate of course!

I think that it’s more important than ever to look up. To appreciate all that mother nature has to offer. To give thanks for the beauty that is around us, whether a blue sky, blossom or the tulips blooming in my garden.

Last year I wrote that I was giving myself the long weekend off. This year I’ve cleared my diary for a full week. I shall enjoy listening to the Classic FM Hall of Fame countdown over the long weekend knowing that come Tuesday I’ll still have time to just relax and be.

I will give thanks for all I have rather than mourn what is lacking, embrace the joy and hope of the season and remember that this will pass, we will be together again.

Wishing you a joyful Easter!