Hazel's Easter Surprise by Toni Star

Before you read Hazel's Easter Surprise, I just want to wish everyone a very Happy Easter and to always keep in mind what is so special about Easter; it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I know most Christians know this but sometimes during the rush of days before Easter, we sometimes lose track of what is truly important, not just at Easter but throughout the year. It is the resurrection of a man named Jesus. Without the resurrection of Jesus, there would be no reason to live, no reason for anything. Jesus is Lord and is the only person who rose from the dead. The only one.

So, give praise and glory to God for His Son, Jesus Christ, and live in hope, peace and truth!

Blessings,

Toni Star

Hazel’s Easter Surprise

It is eight o’clock in the morning, March the second and Hazel McGreedy is busy planning Easter dinner.  As she jogs down the sidewalk in her new red, white and blue spandex running outfit with matching jogging shoes, she listens to a tape recording she made the night before.  The tape begins with Hazel singing, “I love me, myself and I!  I am so groovy, groovy…groovy!”  At the end of her song she listens gleefully to her recorded plans….

‘Call the caterer.  Make sure that he brings three large hams, plenty of mashed potatoes, a bunch of veggies and a large tin of homemade fudge.  Have hubby buy some cheap gifts at Forever Discount Center.  Remind him, oh illustrious one, to get these gifts late at night so he won’t be seen by our “nibby and spying” neighbors.  Invite friends from church and a few neighbors, especially Jean Snooty.  Call Speedy Lawn care and get our yard cleaned up from the dirty, old winter.”

Satisfied with her plans, Hazel smiled to herself and started to sing, “Oh I love to be cheap, and I love to be cheap!  It’s fun and really, really neat!”

Days passed and Hazel completed all of her plans, per schedule.  She checked off each item in her Day Book Planner as it was completed.  Hazel’s family was in for an Easter surprise, for she hadn’t told anyone about her plans for Easter.  She loved giving her family surprises.

Well, Easter Sunday arrived and guess what happened?

No one on her list showed up but old Jean Snooty.  The children had to be nice to her, even though she ate almost everything in sight, stuffing her mouth full and talking at the same time.  The children thought to themselves, “How gross!”

Speedy Lawn care didn’t show up, so the lawn didn’t look so good and the caterers brought the wrong menu.  There was no Easter hams, no mashed potatoes, no veggies and no homemade fudge.  Instead, they had chicken and rice, a few veggies and a butterscotch pie, that was not well made.  Everyone found the menu boring, except Jean Snooty.  Jean Snooty would eat just about everything, and usually did.  (Later in the day, Jean blabbed to all of Hazel’s friends how cheap she was with the food.)

After dinner and visiting with Jean and family, Hazel went for a long walk.  She was depressed and tired.  She thought, “Why is it everything I do fails?  I make such good plans and yet nothing turns out like I want it to.”  As she walked down the street she saw some lilies planted in front of a small house.  Lilies reminded her of her youth, her family and the old church she and her family used to attend.

She thought out loud, “I have lost sight of what’s most important at Easter!  I guess it’s not about impressing others with a fancy dinner.  I guess it’s really about Jesus.  Why do I always forget that?”

Hazel’s fleeting moment of truth brought to her, if only for a while, a true insight to what Easter is all about—Jesus and love.

Copyright Toni Star 2018