In true west Texas style, on the day of our annual easter egg hunt at Wheelock Park, the wind and cold blew in with temperatures in the 40s! An event expected and prepared to draw in 300 participants only drew 75 dedicated and eager egg hunters. In the weeks leading up to the event, volunteers helped stuff over 3,000 eggs, which provided plenty of eggs for participants to collect. One grandma of five shared that her family loves the Lubbock Impact tradition so much that they were not going to allow the cold weather to keep them from the fun.
Many of the attendees were parents who came straight from work after picking up their kiddos and mentioned how they were grateful to be able to relax and enjoy the festivities with their kids. For some families, the Easter holiday brings on higher levels of stress. Easter is a day of celebration and rejoicing for our risen Savior, but it can be hard to get in the celebration spirit when you have bills, responsibilities, work, health problems, or other personal issues weighing on your mind. Additionally, most Easter celebrations usually come with an extra cost, so families with an already tight budget may not be able to have their own celebrations, further accentuating their stress. This event aims to lift any burdens brought on by the holiday for those families and provide a place where they can enjoy themselves while celebrating Easter with their kids.
This year, we added an adult egg hunt, and all who participated enjoyed a lighthearted, friendly competition with each other while gathering eggs. There was lots of laughter as adults were able to make new memories of joy with their Lubbock Impact family. One mom reminisced of large family Easter egg hunts she experienced as a child, ones very similar to Lubbock Impact’s event. She mentioned how much she would love to have provided the same experiences for her children but could not afford to make that happen at this time. Her gratitude was obvious, and as she participated in the adult egg hunt, she seemed to feel like a kid again.
Though we had a lot of fun making jewelry, doing sack races, eating hot dogs and ice cream, and hunting for Easter eggs, fun events like these are about so much more. Creating lasting memories and strengthening connections between friends, families, and community, as well as, healing, are the intentions behind events like these. Many of our friends are going through personal difficulties or financial hardships in their lives; a simple event like an Easter egg hunt can provide a much-needed breath of fresh air and an opportunity to support and uplift each other. With all the countless obstacles life throws our way, it is important to find and share joy in every circumstance. On Easter, we celebrate that we have a Savior who will overcome all things, and through Him, we too will overcome hard things. Easter is a day of hope and a powerful celebration of Jesus’ triumph over death. At Lubbock Impact, this truth reminds us that love and joy will always overcome despair.
