Have you uttered the words "Not the typical Easter"?

On Easter Sunday your donations showed me that God works here and now
through those who allow this amazing generosity, grace and
unconditional love to flow freely.
Thank you for filling my heart and filling our tables!!

For those that ask what could we use I show you the gaps: fresh food
(eggs, milk, ground beef, chicken, pork, bread), bleach, spray
disinfectant, toilet paper, facial tissues, and canned meat.

Donations of all fresh food, cleaning and paper products, personal care items, and uplifting notes can be dropped off to Gelsosomo's Pizzeria, 206 Main St, Downtown Lemont, 11am-7pm every day.

This is has not been our typical Easter.

I cannot imagine that many of you can say you haven’t uttered that phrase at least once over the past few days. There are traditions, expectations, and family-goals that we have for every celebratory day including holidays like today then life throws a curve ball, more specifically a corona-ball this year.

I have had a few minutes to check into social media today and so enjoyed seeing pictures of families dressed up (even if for the few minutes of the photo then back to the sweats!), I have partaken in a few services online which I wouldn’t have been able to be enriched by had these “services on the sofa” not been the new norm, and I had so much alone time to meditate, ponder, chew the fat and talk to God on the day that He opened the door, or more accurately grave, to hope and our future.

I admire, respect and love how it appeared that so many recreated the “not-typical” Easter into a beautiful day of fun, memory making moments, and reverence to the reason we hold this day in such relevance; if nothing less you will remember this Easter for the rest of your days. This stand out Easter which was preceded by 4 weeks of way too much family bonding, home schooling while working at home, and having to figure out shopping online or with your safety garb fully in place. You truly demonstrated how when the tough times appear the warriors rise above the challenge. I love your example of tenacity, determination and strength and am inspired by it.

This weekend I took my moments to be reverent to where we are and honor what this weekend signifies. I was so very grateful to lean on my churches and their online services so that I could shut off everything else and turn on your voices, your inspiration, and your uplifting messages. Thank you Pastors, church staff for being God’s hands and feet and voice, for not closing up shop but pulling up your work boots and digging in to help us feel closer, not further, from our faith, our church families, and our God. Words cannot capture that appreciation adequately. I know it has been more work and you have had to recreate how you lead worship, just as our teachers have had to rework and recreate how they teach our young people. Please know you are all being lifted in hearts and prayers with immense gratitude, respect and sincere love!

My Easter weekend was a see-saw of highs and lows. I try very hard not to let waves of sadness slow me down. I really don’t have time for that and tell myself that continually when I feel I’ve been stuck too long in a “moment”. I cannot lie, I have been a bit envious of those who are “sheltered in place” with those they love. I know that it may not seem to be a blessing for those who are feeling trapped with their circus and their monkeys, but for one who is 15 hours from the one I would like to be “sheltered in place” with I do wish I had that option. Today we were supposed to gather at my daughter’s new home and we were to play and celebrate with two of our grandkids. As every “stay at home” grandparent knows, us grandparents miss our grandkids so very badly. Yes we miss our kids, but you know….grandkids are just extra special! We were to be united today with my son and his fiancé today and love on them, something I so wish I could do being that they are on the front line serving the sick at two hospitals in Chicago. I worry about them every day, praying they will be surrounded with the armor of protection from this virus that they are swimming in every day they arrive at work. They had to postpone their much-anticipated wedding and put that on the backburner while they risk their health serving others. It just seems so unfair, but so does so much about this current chapter.

I spent this afternoon sorting donations for the next round of relief deliveries. I went into the day aching in body, mind and spirit but now sit and understand so much more about how God is working through the “unfair” and exposing the good and grace of those who allow Him to move them. I spent two hours opening boxes sent to me from the Amazon link set up by Lemont Calvary Church and unpacking bags of donations at Dig’s on Canal that you have dropped off to Gelsosomo’s Pizzeria (our home drop off locations graciously granted to us from the Gricus family). I became more energized and more grateful with every single donation I put purposefully in place on the tables readying them for this Wednesday’s delivery. Many of the boxes had a gift receipt in it with the name of the person who sent it. I prayed for every name I read and for all of those whom I did not know but whose donations started filling up what was empty and now becoming more filled. I have the humble gift of being ears to such painful stories of struggle. I know that what is being offered isn’t much, but to those who have so little it is more than they could have ever hoped for as a gift from a friend they will never get to personally thank. So many of these homes are without any pay being “non-essential” workers. Some are seniors who tell me how their social security just isn’t cutting it. One senior told me he has to pay for his prescription, which went up in cost and that left him much less to purchase food for him and his wife. One of our families lost their patriarch to the virus and will move through the strict and “unfair” burial practice that must be performed within social distancing parameters. So many of the homes we arrive to are scared to wander out of their homes battling cancer, immune compromised situations and health situations that put them at high-risk. Many parents have texted/messaged/emailed me telling me that these deliveries are “bags of happiness” that excite the whole household when they arrive. I saw pictures of many of the Easter Baskets that we delivered last Wednesday being received today by so many young friends here in our community. They will never know who prepared those baskets for them, and that is perfect because an act of kindness does not need a name attached to it, it just needs to be offered with unconditional grace and love.

So as I started to have that mopey moment today feeling sad that I couldn’t be where I wanted to be, with whom I wanted to be with, celebrating Easter as I wanted to celebrate it, I was reminded of limitless love and hope through the unconventional services and heartfelt sermons, through the sun shining on an Easter day that should have seen families gathered unafraid of any virus or disease, through the church bells ringing from empty churches, and through the unconditional generosity and grace offered within every box and bag I emptied that began refilling the tables that will help those who simply have seen nothing but the darkness of these days. I unpacked hope on a day that hope rose from the grave.

I find it quite symbolic that we are writing this chapter of history enveloping Easter within it. Easter a time of injustice, isolation, abandonment, pain, loss, death, grieving, celebration, appreciation of what was gone and has returned, life, hope and the invitation to go forth from where one had sheltered in place encouraged to speak of unconditional love and new beginnings. You are providing hope my friend. Hope and love in what feels to be a hopeless and painful period.

I thank you for your generosity, your love, your support, your donations, your hands and feet, your love, your grace extended to those you will never meet, or maybe you will meet but you will not know you were the person who helped fill their “bags of happiness” during a time they were huddled up in despair and uncertainty having been labeled as “non essential”. You are writing in this chapter for them that all are “essential” in your eyes and hearts. What a beautiful message for this Easter day. Thank you for being hope, love, and unconditional grace my friend.

Wishing you a gazillion blessings of love, peace, hope, health and unconditional grace and generosity returned to you,

Terri

Terri O’Neill-Borders

terri@hopeandfriendshipfoundation

www.hopeandfriendshipfoundation.com

Facebook: Terri O’Neill-Borders & Hope and Friendship Ministries