My sister and I have always had an affinity for the Easter holiday because our last name means “of Easter” in Italian. Growing up in Tallahassee, Florida it was both a badge of honor and an annoyance to have a “weird” last name. Knowing the translation was a way to make it more palatable to our fellow southerners.
I’ve celebrated Easter as a lukewarm Christian, a cynical atheist, and now as a evangelical Christian. I’ve always felt connected to Easter, but as a believer it’s even much more meaningful. Being “Lisa of Easter” is no longer just a quirky fact, but a reminder of God’s love and sacrifice for all of us. Buona Pasqua!