By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
Don’t Let Easter Be Just for Show: Forgive Like You Mean It
During Lent, our church asked us to give up one thing each week. Not just food—real stuff like sweets, Netflix, or even… phones. Yep, there was a no phone week. I tried. I really did. But my phone said, “Nice try,” and stayed glued to my hand.
But now it’s Good Friday—the big countdown to Easter Sunday. The moment we’re supposed to let go of all the bad stuff: our mistakes, our anger, our regrets. We’re supposed to get a fresh start. It’s like hitting “restart” on life—with forgiveness.
Jesus didn’t rise from the dead so we could stay stuck being mad at people over things that happened in 1776. Yes, that’s the year America got independence—and some folks still haven’t let go of a petty comment from before that.
Let’s talk real talk.
So many people go big on Easter—new outfits, big meals, church selfies, and candy baskets taller than their kids. But by Tuesday? They’re back to giving people the silent treatment, holding grudges like Olympic gold medals, and plotting petty revenge like it’s a side hustle.
It’s like cleaning your house for guests and then living in the garage.
Here’s what I decided: if I tried to keep track of every person who betrayed me, disappointed me, or just acted plain foolish, the list would be longer than the U.S. tax code. That’s over 70,000 pages of rules, forms, and confusing instructions. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
So I made it simple: I forgive everybody—all at once—on Easter Sunday. Full sweep. No exceptions. It’s cheaper than therapy and better for my blood pressure.
Fun fact: “Lent” comes from the old English word lencten, which means “spring.” So if you’re still holding onto drama from last year—or 1776—it’s time to spring clean your heart too.
And here’s what’s wild: Even Muslims, Hindus, and people who’ve never stepped inside a church are celebrating Easter now—yep, the whole world. Oops—except China. They’re probably watching us from a satellite, shaking their heads like, “What are these people doing in pastel suits and bunny ears?”
Here’s the secret: It’s not even about your forgiveness. It’s about Jesus’ forgiveness. So go ahead—live angry, hold grudges, and stay mad at the world. But just know this: when you die, even your next-door neighbor might forget you existed before your body’s cold. And that’s the legacy you’ll leave—bitterness and silence.
And yes, I even flew back to the U.S. just to go to church this Sunday. Why? Because Easter is the one time even the “CEO Christians” show up—Christmas and Easter Only. It’s the Super Bowl of church attendance. You don’t wanna miss the fashion show, the choir doing the most, and that one family taking photos like it’s a red carpet.
But honestly, I didn’t come back for the hype—I came back to rise.
It’s hard to move forward in life if we can’t open our hearts to truly forgive—and just as importantly, to ask for forgiveness. You see, now I’m being all spiritual. But it’s true. Forgiveness is not weakness; it’s what makes space for grace.
Not just to celebrate Jesus rising from the dead, but to rise above gossip, grudges, and nonsense. I came back to live new, with a clean heart, a fresh mindset, and zero junk in my soul.
So here’s your challenge:
Forgive. Reset. Rise.
Because if you’re still mad on Tuesday, you didn’t celebrate Easter—you just had a costume change.
About the Author
John is an entrepreneur, strategist, and founder of JS Morlu, LLC, a Virginia based CPA firm with multiple software ventures including www.FinovatePro.com, www.Recksoft.com and www.Fixaars.com . With operations spanning multiple countries, John is on a mission to build global infrastructure that empowers small businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals to thrive in an increasingly competitive world. He believes in hard truths, smart execution, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. When he’s not writing or building, he’s challenging someone to a productivity contest—or inventing software that automates it.
