Pesach, Anniversaries and Fraternity

I ♥ Pesach (Passover).

I love how what we refer to as Maundy Thursday or the Last Supper is really just Jesus fulfilling Jewish prophecy.

I love that when he was speaking of it being His body and blood it was during the third cup of wine (grape juice) which is the Cup of Redemption.

I love that the Afikomen demonstrates Jesus--broken bread, hidden, then brought to light again.

I love the concept of Dayenu (it would have been sufficient).

I love that Jesus became our Pesach lamb.

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Anniversaries

Today is my parents' 33rd anniversary.

They are still very much in love.

33 years ago they stood in line to get married.

A few hours later, they had another ceremony
[to which my dad was late]

I love how they love each other, even though it's still weird for me because I'm their kid.

I want a marriage love like theirs.

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Fraternity

Wake up!!!

Oh Please, Wake up!!

The house is on fire, WAKE UP!!!

I'm holding my breath for both of us, but my lungs feel like they're going to burst.

In the past 9 years, Jaime, you've just about used up all your 9 lives.

Jaime.

JAIME!!!

-sickness and surgeries
-3 tours of Iraq
-gunner off the back of a helicopter
-in helicopter crash where plane chopped in half in midair
-found staged suicide fellow Marine
-tour of Afghanistan
-ambulance runs for wounded/dead soldiers
-one of closest friends died in car accident
-Jonathan's accident

And now this.

Drunk driver hits you. He goes to jail and your car goes to the shop.

And you?

YOU.STILL.DONT.GET.IT.

God wants you back. And each time, he's graciously spared you from almost all physical harm.

You get scratches and bruises while others get body bags.

How much longer until something like what happened to Jonathan happens to you?

When will your 9 lives run out?

Will I get a call about you one day?

God wants your attention, Jaime.

And instead of re-turning to God, you get angrier and set your face like flint against God.

Jaime...my pet name for you...Jaime.

Your whole life--God has been chasing you--and so have I.

Jaime, I've always wanted something to tie us together because DNA has never been enough of a bond for us.

The bonds of fraternity are tenuous.

I want more.

& every time I see you, it's like you're a stranger.

A stranger with shared DNA.

& I know your phone was on, because I was taking a nap at mom's when you called her.
[why won't you talk to me?]

I've always loved you--through the tattling and terror--

I say, "I love you," when we do talk on the phone-

at least 8 times out of 10, you don't say "I love you" back.

[that hurts]

And you'll never read this.
And if you ever did, you'd sigh really loudly and get defensive.

I just want you to know freedom for once in your life.

It's not in the bottom of a bottle, or in bed or in work or anything except Jesus Christ.

I just want you to know your family loves you in spite of our flaws--including Dad.

I just want you to know:

I love you.