Do you remember that childhood holiday feeling? Not the morning excitement at the festivities to come, but that second feeling: the sadness as the day drew to a close and next year’s celebration suddenly felt impossibly far away.

One of the beautiful things that the church calendar brings us is the time to savor holidays that we may have only ever known as one-day celebrations. Take Easter, for example. In the church calendar, Easter isn't a single day but a season known as Eastertide, which lasts for 50 days.

50 days of celebration that the resurrection is real.
50 days of soaking up the nearness of Jesus made possible by his sacrifice for us.
50 days of joy that Christ has come and will come again.

Whatever you are feeling this Easter season—whether you’re delighted to linger longer in a time of celebration or feel like all is deep and dark—may the opportunity to take your time and ponder Christ’s resurrection bring you peace and hope this Eastertide.