Susan and her children in the ’80s.

By Susan Shanklin

Have you ever imagined in your mind an event or plan? Had it all scoped out in your mind in detail, with color and sound? You are thinking that this is how it is going to go or unfold, only to have it so not happen that way? The planning becomes unplanned. The heavens don’t open up and the angels don’t descend. No, it didn’t happen that way, so what you going to do about it? Huh? Throw a fit? Lock yourself in the bedroom? Crawl into a cave and scream at God?

YES! Just kidding. But that is what you feel like doing. You want the flesh to be satisfied. You want your spouse to hear ALL about your woes and problems. What it really boils down to, I think at least in my case, is PEOPLE. Yes PEOPLE. Humans, I think they call them. You just can’t get them to do what you want them to do when you want them to do it.

I had a plan. A good plan! I shall invite my three children and their families for Resurrection Sunday/Easter. We will all go to church and have a festive meal afterwards.

Wouldn’t that be glorious? Smiling, happy faces linked arm and arm strolling into the house of worship. Lifting our voices to God. Praising the resurrection of Jesus. The tomb is empty! He is alive! We would weep for joy. Hug and embrace each other.

The little grandchildren would dance with glee while secretly waiting to get back to grandma’s for sweet treats and to see the baby chicks. Giggles of delight on the Shanklin’s Ponderosa!

Can you see it? Can you hear it? Happy! Happy! Happy!

I sent an email out about a month in advance to all children and spouses. Well, not son in law Greg. He’s a banker and his employer frowns on such emails. Anyway I was excited and apprehensive at the same time.

They have their own little families now. They have friends. They have their own corner of the world now. But I’m here! Gpa is here! I have baby chicks! I have FOOD!

I know you want to come. Come hither!

I get a response from my youngest, Ruthie in Iowa, that they will be traveling to see the banker’s family in Illinois.

Ok I’ll live. I understand. Two more to go.

Heidi, the oldest, takes a few days and says “Well maybe, kind of, well maybe not, can’t say right now. Let you know later.” which later becomes “No, can’t make it, my husband’s family is coming over, but you are sure welcome to come here.”

Ok, I’ll live. I understand. One more to go.

Wait and wait and wait on my middle child, Nathan.

Finally an answer! “We are having friends over, so let’s make it another time soon.”

WHAT??????????????????????

Strike three and you’re out!

But you don’t understand! I found this awesome recipe for golden egg cakes that you put into little egg molds and they taste like heaven’s clouds. I over bid on those little egg cake pans on Ebay. Not one pan but TWO egg pans! I bought a 9 pound ham! I WANT CHOCOLATE BUNNIES AND EGGS. I want!!!

I want my family. I want love. I want my grand babies. I want laughter. I want to cook.

I prayed for  an excellent, best ever, Resurrection Sunday and THIS is what I got….NOTHING. No family. No love. No chocolate. All I got was ……an empty tomb.

Slap, slap, slap myself again.

Surely I’ve got the best of the best!

My kids still love me. I got a carton of marshmallow eggs and let Tom have two. I now am the proud owner of two mini egg mold pans and a ham to boot. But most of all I have Jesus!

I crawled on His knee with my thumb in my mouth and told Him all how I felt. I whined for days and I don’t know why He didn’t push me off His knee considering the looooong line waiting for His attention.

But He listens. And so does my dear Tom.

I have occasionally crawled back on His knee again. But Jesus doesn’t seem to mind. He did say, “Come unto me all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

‘So what’s the happy ending Susan? Where’s the zinger?????

There is none. I just know that I know my Lord is good and it’s all going to be ok.