Jesus is the Reason for Easter...

I think Jesus has been on Joey's mind lately. Here are some Jesus and Joeyisms to help you remember the true reason for Easter.

• We're at church and Joey pulls my cross necklace off my neck and says, "Mom, did you know Jesus died on this cross and he was hammered to it? But, then, when she went to check the rock, He wasn't there! Wanna know why? Because Jesus is ALIVE!" I loved that. It made me feel good that he's learning in Sunday School. But, what a tough lesson- first He dies, then He's buried, then He's alive. I bet Joey's like, "What the heck is up with this guy?"
• Joey goes up to Grandma Phyllis at Easter and says, "Hi Gamma Phyllis. Papa Cecil is in heaven today." So innocent.
• Joey hugs Gma Phyllis goodbye and says, "Gamma, are you gonna miss Papa Cecil some more?" I said, "Yep, Joey, we all are. We all miss him. But, that's okay." It was a hard Easter for everyone without Papa Cecil.
• Overheard while Joey is playing with his superheroes. "Hey Spiderman. Guess what? Bam! Bam! You going to heaven now!" Joe looks at me and says, "Hmmm...something is wrong with that picture- he's trying to kill Spiderman with the bad guy, but he's sending him to heaven...." Joey heard us and said, "What I meant, dad, was that I was going to kill him, and then he'd go to heaven." Interesting. Not sure that clarified anything for us.
• At the supper table last week, Joey says, "Dad- can we just send Maddox back to Jesus?" And, Joe says, "Oh no, Joey, I would miss Maddox so much and so would you!" And, he says, "No, dad I wouldn't. I promise I will not miss him. Let's send him back!" Poor Maddox...
• At bathtime last night, Joey said, "Mom, Peter Parker's arm fell off again, just like Papa Cecil's." And, I say, "Yep, but he can still do lots of things! And, you know what? Papa Cecil has TWO hands now!" And, he said, "What? When did he get it back?" And, I said, "In heaven. When you go to heaven, nothing hurts anymore and so Jesus gave him his hand back! Isn't that exciting?" And, Joey said, "Yeah...I bet he likes two hands." I said, "Yep, I bet life is much easier up there, Joey."

Sometimes the hurt from missing Papa Cecil is paralyzing. But, I think it's best to talk about it. I think that's how the boys will remember him. We have a picture of Papa Cecil on the computer, and when I mention any papa - Papa Joe or Papa Mark, Maddox says, "Papa! Papa!" and goes running to the computer, points at his picture, and is SO happy to see him. That makes me happy. One day, I'll tell him about the man he's named after, and what an honor it is.