A good Good Friday

In the Christian faith, Good Friday seems paradoxical.  I mean, how can someone call a day that saw the Son of God hang from two pieces of wood, nailed through his hands and feet, stabbed, spit on, mocked, and slowly die, and this after being beaten, lashed, and forced to carry the pieces of wood on which He would hang to the Place of the Skull, good?  It is rather remarkable to wrap the brain around: that such tearing of flesh, so many excruciating moments of unimaginable pain, would be the life-giving blood for us all.  To say I am grateful for this Good is almost insulting because the word grateful is so pitiful to describe what I feel.  And it pales in comparison to what I am about to share.

I had a pretty amazing day today.  Technically, because of Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, every day is pretty amazing.  So perhaps a better way to word it is to say that today added many more drops to the ocean of grace He has given me.

Counting my blessings today, in no particular order:

~ I got over a stomach bug and was able to move around and see people I love.

~ I had lunch with an awesome friend who encourages me, trusts me enough to share with me, and makes me laugh like few people can, especially about myself.

~ I have a brother-in-law willing to sacrifice a beautiful afternoon to visit a car dealership and go through the haggling that makes me want to jam pens in my ears.

~ I had dinner with four generations of women in my family.

~ I have a sister who shares a secret language and can communicate with a glance.

~ I have a 92-year-old grandmother who is spunky as all get-out.

~ I have a mom who wants me to call when I get home to be sure I am safe.

~ I have a stepdad who wants to come help me make my home better, again.

~ I have a niece whose work ethic, passion, and sense of humor delight me.

~ I have another niece whose curiosity, faith, and cleverness also delight me.

~ I had a conversation with a former student who made me crazy when we first met, made me laugh like crazy once we learned how to get along, and makes me proud, proud, proud to this day.

There are so many blessings I can add, so many people and experiences, that transcend today.  The amazing thing is that the Lord knows I am broken, deeply flawed, and profoundly weak, and He gives me so much, just in one day.  One day just under two millennia ago, and one day today.  

By His wounds we are healed.