My mum returned home one evening to a missing foundation bottle, she probably wouldn’t have realised it was missing if the culprit didn’t also play with it and rub it all over their bed, drawers and even the floor. It truly was a mess.

We were assembled to the living room after we all received a tour of the mess, and then the questioning began! “Who did it?”

Everyone flat out denied, but the culprit had to be one of us, but who was it?

As was my mums custom, she’ll read out scriptures on lying and then proceed to bring out her weapon for the night, again asking “who did it?”

Still, everyone denied.

In the heat of the moment, quarter to everyone getting whopped. I admitted to doing it. I said “I did it, it was me”

Respite.

But the next question followed “where is the foundation bottle?” I couldn’t have known, I didn’t actually do it😭

But hey, I’d admitted it, taken one for the team, but it didn’t end there, my mum wanted the bottle.

I lied that I threw it outside the gate, and that night, together with the gatemen and every member of the household, there was a search party, no one would believe we were outside the compound that night searching for a foundation bottle, which I was certain wasn’t there, cause hey!!! I didn’t actually do it.

Thanks to my aunties for prevailing on my behalf, my mum let it slide, but for years, I carried the anger of admitting to what I didn’t do and taking the weight and blame of lying that really wasn’t mine.

Everyone thought me a liar, and very foolish for the messy trace I left to the scene, but HEY! I really didn’t do it.

I sat thinking of this pain I carried for years as tears stung the back of my eyes.

I was reminded that Jesus has been there, done that.

Bore the weight and blame of the entire world; only that, for Him, it ended with nail-pierced hands, hanging on a cross.

Easter bears the weight of our faith.

It brings to our remembrance the very essence of what we believe.

It comes with deep sobriety, but eventually with endless joy.

I hope it isn’t just another holiday for you, but brings to the forefront of your mind the truth that; we truly were headed to utter destruction and really did need saving, and Jesus nominated Himself, stood in our place.

Because of the cross, we’re in union with God through Christ and assured of eternity with Him. There’s no greater gift in all the earth.

This season brings a lot into perspective and I hope you pause to appreciate the perspective of being a free man, the man God will not impute sin. 

“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” ~ Romans‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ 

And if your sin still counts against you, here’s an invitation to have our willing Jesus, stand in your place.

Ps. I never got to know who actually stole that foundation bottle or made that mess, but today I’m glad I have just a glimpse of what it is to bear the sin of just one person, and knowing how deeply that hurt, I couldn’t think to imagine what it would’ve cost to bear that of the entire world.

Thank you Jesus for the cross.

Thank you for saying “I did it, it was me” for me.

Thank you for not just giving respite, but rest forever.

We are much better for it.