Easter Reflections

The kids noticed this little bird nest perched precariously on the ladder leaning against the east side of our house. The mother bird is a little ring necked dove. She has been sitting on her nest for at least a couple of weeks now. (I tried to get her picture, but I frightened her, and she flew away. You'll have to imagine a bird in the nest.) When I saw the nest, I couldn't help but ponder the scripture, Matthew 8:20 which reads:
And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the son of man hath not where to lay his head. Even as a baby, there was no room at the inn for the Savior of the world; indeed, no crib for a bed as the song states. Isaiah 53:3 states: "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." In verses 4 through 5 Isaiah continues, "Surely, he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows......But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." His was a life devoted to service to others, of being a perfect example of love, and Master teacher. Even His last thoughts were for others: Asking His Father to forgive the Roman soldiers who had followed through with Pilates' orders to crucify him.
On Calvary, he was the dying Christ. From the tomb, he arose, the Living Christ. I love Isaiah's words: "..and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) He who had tread the olive press alone overcame all that we might also live. Why did he do it? It was not for fame, or glory or power. He did it because he loved us. He, who had all power, sacrificed all for us. We love him because He loved us first. (1 John 4:19)Because of our Savior and His infinite atonement, we have much to rejoice about. This coming Easter Sabbath will be a day to renew covenants and worship our Savior. Someone wrote: "Remembering is the seed of gratitude." Although our human minds are frail and can't begin to comprehend all that the Savior has done for us; we can do as he has asked us to do by remembering Him always, and keeping His commandments. In this way, we can invited Him into our hearts, and do much good. I am thankful for small things like bird nests that help turn my thoughts to the Savior, and give me an opportunity to feel gratitude for all He has done for me.