Easter means spring

At the school where my wife works, there are thornbushes that look like suitable candidates for a centurion trying to humiliate a Jew pretending to the throne of power. They had long thorns that could actually do some damage. All this winter, during recess, I contemplated these bushes: what would anyone keep them for? They're not safe, they don't look all that attractive. How are these appropriate for school? All through Lent, I pictured these in my forehead-- how did He manage the pain?

Now it's spring, not only have little green buds appeared, from the very midst of the thorny thicket, blossoms have appeared-- pink blossoms like cherry trees, filling from the inside out.

This is Easter-- we have pierced the Lord with our sins, and he has revealed our beauty nonetheless.