"hope"

Happy Easter!!

It's very difficult to take a photo of a window!

Some of you may know, or have heard of the Fisher Family, and perhaps in particular Bertie Fisher, a famous rally driver from Northern Ireland. In 2001, Bertie and 2 of his 3 children, Mark and Emma, were killed in a helicopter crash. Our little village in rural Fermanagh came to a complete stop.

I was only 12 when the accident happened, but I remember being very sad and not being able to sleep. But then mum would tell me that Mark and Emma wouldn't have wanted me to feel sad, but to remember how much fun they had while they were alive. They were older than me, but Emma especially was someone I remember looking up to, and I guess as I gradually approach the age they were when they were killed, I'm beginning to appreciate life a lot more and not take it for granted. Life is too short to not be happy living it!

In 2011, Bertie's wife Gladys and their son Roy (the only survivors and who in their own words are now held together with metal), dedicated this stunning stained glass window to our church. I remember it being a very emotional day and as it was dedicated the sun was beaming through it and all these wonderful colours reflected back onto the church walls. Every time I look at it I smile and I guess in some ways that was why Gladys and Roy chose the story of Noah and the Ark for it - a Bible story that makes you smile, faith in God and a simple promise that everything will be OK, even in the darkest of times.

And the sun shone through it again this morning, Easter Day, when another promise was made to us through an empty tomb.

:)

# In Christ Alone - Keith & Kristyn Getty #