I have been thinking a lot of Easter and Jesus being resurrected. I thank God for the sacrifice.  As I was opening the local Library, I got a sliver while turning the open sign around.....ouch...as I was trying to dig out the sliver later, it occurred to me that if this sliver hurt as much as it did, then surely I wouldn't be able to handle the pain of nails being driven through my hands, a spear driven in my side, or even wearing a crown of thorns....but Jesus did it! Now, I have had non-believers tell me of course Jesus didn't feel the pain....he was above it. NO! It seems to me that Jesus being a man but being able to bypass the pain man would feel would be missing the whole point of the sacrifice wouldn't it? It seems to me, Jesus would have to feel the full amount of pain I would feel on the cross. So, I know I wouldn't have been able to do it...especially if this sliver can cause me so much discomfort! I now know, thanks to God, that I should not ask God to take away my pain, but rather, for the strength to endure the pain that this world puts on me. In that way, I will thank God for my afflictions, however small or large they might be, for they teach me great things about myself. So, I want to thank God for the sacrifice he made of his only begotten son, and the ultimate pain Jesus suffered because it was much more than a sliver!