Because of Him

       

      Lately everyone has been posting on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram the hashtag "Because of Him" in light of Easter weekend. I was eager to jump into the bandwagon, but there was just too much to say in the limiting space of a Facebook post. 

      I can't really think of anything in my life that isn't because of the Savior: My family, my friends, my chance to be at Brigham Young University, to be applying for a full-time mission, my job opportunities, my talents, and of course having this gospel as a part of my life. Because of Him, I have the opportunity to repent of my sins every week during sacrament, to become clean again. Because of Him I have the redeeming power of the atonement that both enlightens me, and strengthens me to go on.

     Because of Him, we have this beautiful world that we live in. I love the fact that Easter is in spring, because every blossom, every warm breeze, every ray of sunshine testifies that there is a God, and that He created this Earth for us. The happy spring colors, the Easter eggs that symbolize rebirth, resurrection, happiness, life... what a wonderful season this is. 

       I still can't help but feel like I am not expressing my gratitude for Jesus Christ and his sacrifice accurately. I am always better at expressing my feelings through poetry, so I decided to write a poem about it. Can you guess what I will title it?

Because of Him the grass grows green 

And the sparrows sing their songs

The sunshine brings warmth to all the land

As the Easter season comes along. 

Because of Him, a child's birth

Is celebrated, sacred, and blessed 

An eight year-old child submersed in water

Cleansed and perfect, at their best.

Because of Him we can try again

Through prayer, we can be redeemed.

His gentle hands cleaning the apostles' feet

On His hands and knees, he scrubbed and cleaned.

Because of Him we have an example

And a path to follow every day of our lives

Where, if we follow the straight and narrow

With our parents, children, husbands, and wives,

We know that we'll reach His kingdom

Where He will greet us with arms outstretched

Call us by name, and welcome us home,

The kind lines on his face so delicately etched.

Because of Him, His sacrifice,

and the wounds that pierce His side,

Because of Him we can be whole again

Because he suffered, bled, and died.

Because of Him the sun on that Easter morn

Shined so perfectly on an empty tomb

Mary cried and wept, while He

Sought to ease her troubled gloom.

He lives today, He rose again

We will testify in every hymn

For today we rejoice, and celebrate

We have everything because of Him.