Easter Island

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Easter is the time many of us get together with family and friends. Some of us participate in community activities for children and others invite those without a place to go. The day can take a lot of preparation but the fellowship is worth the investment.

When our children were very young, we lived on a rural island located in Lake Huron off the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. There was one blinking traffic light, one small credit union branch, and a few other typical small town businesses.

Wild animals like bear, moose, coyote, bobcat, etc found their way over when ice connected the island to Canada each winter.

Like most very small towns, Drummond Island had no shortage of adventures for small children. They roamed as free as Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer climbing trees that towered over our house.

The Congregation Church bells called island worshippers every Sunday morning. The head deacon had been born and raised there. He had a rough yet kind way about him.

On Easter Sunday, he approached us and invited our family to his place for the egg hunt and dinner. “You don’t have family nearby, eh?” No we didn’t. But not many people invite a family with a five and seven year old to a get together the same day. I wondered what his wife would think.

My husband’s job paid just enough for the bills, keep the heat at fifty-five degrees in the winter, and give the kids powdered milk. No extras. We learned to buy groceries in bulk once a month and shop the catalogs for clothes and other needs.

We didn’t have the money to buy a ham for a family dinner and probably would have colored one or two eggs at the most for the kids.

The deacon raised his eyebrows and clapped his hands together. “Well now, can you come or not?”

We smiled and said yes, even though we felt like we were imposing. I had the kids keep their Easter clothes on until it was time to go to the deacon’s house. It seemed the right thing to do.

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The deacon’s dining table had been expanded to full capacity to accommodate his sons and their families along with ours. Chairs had been scrunched close together. It didn’t take long before the tentative spirit left, allowing us to enjoy this giving family. 

After dinner and lively conversation, our children muddied their Easter clothes and giggled with the other kids searching for Easter eggs hidden outside.

That evening we went home, stuffed with home cooked food and blessed with fellowship.

Is there someone you know that you can bless by welcoming them into your family for a meal? It doesn't have to be for Easter. It can be anytime. 

Can you share your experience if you have invited someone in need to your table, or if you were the guest, like my family was?