An Easter Lesson

"I don't love you Mommy. Just Daddy and Roo-bear."

Those were Alex's words to me Easter morning.

My initial thoughts: What?! After everything I do for you?! After giving birth to you?! After the special prizes and treats I give to you?! What do you mean you don't love me?

My self-righteousness kicked in, but I did manage to hold my tongue and check my heart. I know that his little two-year-old self didn't really mean what he was saying, but a part of me was left feeling somewhat, well, rejected.

I don't know about you, but I am of the opinion that rejection is one of the heaviest emotions a heart can bear. The thought that you are dismissed, not cared about, not accepted for who you are. It can weigh you down to say the least.

This start to my Easter morning brought to mind that not only did Jesus bear insufferable physical pain, He also suffered the emotional pain of rejection as well. The Son of God - who came only to love, serve and give the gift of eternal life to ALL - was yelled at, spit upon, mocked, falsely accused, and chosen by the crowd to be executed over a murderer. Now that is rejection. Can you imagine how He must have felt? How sad and heavy his heart must have been when all He tried to do was love them? Not to mention that He was betrayed and denied by His very own friends.

His response? He was not self-righteous, even though he could have been because He was without sin. Instead, He begged of His Father, "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they have done."

There's a lesson to be learned here. God has been slowly revealing to me that He is unimpressed with my self-righteousness. And that like Jesus, I need to be willing to extend grace and forgiveness, even to those who reject me. It's a tough lesson. But one I am grateful He is going through the pains of teaching me.