Growing up as a boy, my parents had everything in pretty good balance. Especially, they had the holidays in balance. We knew and celebrated that the most important thing was Jesus’ birth at Christmas. But, we also enjoyed Santa, gifts, family and food.

Easter was just the same. We were taught that this was the most important time of the year because of the death and resurrection of Christ. Each Easter Sunday morning began with celebrating at a Sunrise Service at Paris Mountain State Park.  Our church sponsored the service and then the men cooked a killer breakfast with gravy, biscuits and all. It made the early hour for a kid worth it!

Once we got back home, we had an Easter basket waiting. The only problem was that we could not get into it until we got home from church. I guess Mom figured that all the candy would make me fidget in Sunday School and preaching. I did enough of that already and I sure didn’t need any additional help.

On the Saturday before Easter, we always dyed eggs and went to an Easter egg hunt. As a kid I loved it and I still do. When I became a teenager it wasn’t “cool”, so I quit. Then, after Pam and I got married and had kids, we were in the Easter egg business again. Then, they became teenagers and no more eggs or hunts. Then, my daughter had kids and here we went again. It was great! But, you guessed it, the grandkids are now teenagers. No more hunts for Joey. Oh, but you are so wrong.

Now, I am at the age where my memory isn’t as sharp as it once was. So, I dye the eggs on Saturday and then hide them before we go to church on Sunday morning. By the time I get home, I don’t have a clue where I hid them. I grab my basket and with the joy of a five year old I go on an Easter egg hunt, all by myself. And the good thing is that I won’t ever have to stop again. In the years to come, and it’s looking more like it might be this year, I’ll need to write myself a note that I did in fact hide the eggs to remind me to look. Now finally, I am self –sufficient! And another benefit is that every year I find a set of car keys and at least three old socks!!!!

I guess the thought behind this blog is to encourage you to give your families balance. I am eternally, literally, that my parents did. God bless and I hope you find all of your eggs!!

Joey Hancock