Praise the Lord, my soul. The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.” ~Psalm104: 1, 11

“Look for your first robin!”

Every spring, this is something my mother tells me. It is something she did with her mother and has been passed down. My mother has a knack of always picking the right day to ask the question. It is usually that day or within a day or two that I see my first robin. Perhaps there have been robins before but I needed my mom’s reminder to help me see what is right in front of me.

Over the years, once I no longer lived at home, it became a ritual for us to always call each other the first day we see a robin each spring. With climate change sometimes we will call each other when that first confused robin is spotted way too early. And for me, seeing my first robin is always a sign of spring. One more precious to me than any other.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the things we pass down. Perhaps it’s been the faith talks during lent. I’ve been thinking about how we too have touchstones of faith, signs of Christ and people that have given those to us. Perhaps for you it is the smell of Easter lilies on Easter morning, the glow of candlelight on Christmas Eve. Do you have a hymn that reminds you of someone special? Maybe deviled eggs or jello salad bring you back to church potlucks in the fellowship hall. Perhaps you have a beloved pastor or Sunday school teacher whose love is tied firmly to your faith. 

And us… how are we doing passing on the faith? What signs of God’s love and care are we passing on, to help people through the tough winters of their lives… to help them remember that spring and new life are here? In 10, 20, 30 years from now, will someone be thinking of this church when they stand to give a faith talk?

My mother and I are both growing older. I know and I dread that there will come a day when I will no longer have someone with whom to call with the news of seeing my first robin. And I also know that I will always have my mother with me. And that my friends is the good news of Easter. We do not need to fear the day when death comes for us or the ones we love. For through Christ our Lord and through his resurrection we are promised that nothing can separate us from God. Love wins. Love always remains. Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

Pastor Rebecca