So, I thought I would share some Easter traditions that we do in our family. As most traditions do, these evolve as our family changes to meet the needs of the kids. The ladies in my Sunday School group shared their family traditions either current or past. It was such a sweet time to hear their memories.
Of course what is Easter without the coloring of the Easter eggs. This usually happens Friday sometime since Saturday is so busy with other Easter activities and because Sophia and Alexandra have Friday off. The kids love coloring the eggs. Mom, not so much. Dye everywhere and the mess! Then last year I got smart and put down a plastic table cloth over the island counter and amazingly the mess wasn’t such an issue. The beautiful thing, just roll the table cloth up and throw it out!
Every Saturday night, after dinner, the kids and I make Easter Story cookies. Here is the recipe I use http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Easter-Story-Cookies. It is such a clear and vivid illustration for the kids to help them understand what Easter is all about. The only thing I change is I have the kids each take a turn with a cooking mallet and have them beat the nuts into small pieces. This illustrates the broken body of Christ and the suffering he endured for our sins.
For family devotions Friday night, we use the Resurrection Eggs. There are 12 eggs and each egg tells a part of the story of Easter from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday. In each egg, is a verse and an item that correlates with that verse. For example, when we read about Christ being buried, their is a piece of white cloth to represent the burial garments. Such a fun and once again, easy way for the children to understand what Easter is all about. ( http://www.amazon.com/Resurrection-Eggs-Familylife/dp/1572297220)
Dan and I hide the Easter eggs after the kiddos hit the hay. I don’t know why it took me this long to think of a way to make sure the kids get the same amount of Easter eggs. But it did…I would blame it on the hair but since it’s red and not blond. Any rate, I got a different colored set of Easter eggs for each child this year. Alexandra’s are camouflage (surprise, surprise), Sophia’s are pink, Micah’s are soccer balls, and Sam’s are basketballs.
Every year, the kids get Easter outfits and I do my best to have us all coordinate. My goal is NOT for my family to end up on a greeting card. I just like to put a little more effort into what we wear on Easter morning. I guess for me it is to help the kids understand the importance of Easter. I want them to understand how important Easter is. Many religions have a “good man” that they follow. Yet, they all died. But Christ was more than a “good man”. He was and is the one true God and He too died. But He ROSE AGAIN!!!! I serve a living, true, holy God. That is the importance of Easter. Easter brings hope to those who feel hopeless, comfort to the hurting, peace to the restless, and the promise of eternal life to all those who believe in Christ as their Savior.
Yes, I am one of those who will cry during the Easter service and it is not because I’m allergic to Easter Lilies. It is because I am so overwhelmed of what Christ did for me on the cross. God came down to earth as a man, stretched out His arms on a cross, hung there in shame, and died for MY sins. But He AROSE again so that I can have life everlasting if I accept Him as MY Savior.
This Easter will have even more meaning for me. It gives me hope that I will see my dad again and that I will hold two of my babes for the first time in a place where there will be no crying or pain. A place that for now seems so distant but yet my heart longs even more for it. Heaven.
Go, ladies, this week with your hearts and mind ever mindful of what Christ did for you and for me on the cross.
Until Next Monday,
Rebekah
“He is NOT here for He is RISEN!”
