Last night my granddaughter loudly announced, "It's Easter!!!" She was excited, we were about to dye Easter eggs! (I was pretty excited too!)
The process and seeing the outcome are always fun, but the time spent with family is priceless! The look on her face as the eggs change color, and her commentary about what we're doing - it's all enough to make this Mimi heart smile!
The decision to dye Easter eggs and have Easter egg hunts is a decision for every Christian family to decide. Our kids always attended the church egg hunts, community egg hunts, and of course our family egg hunt events! No matter how many hunts we attended they always wanted more! I can still hear them say, "do it again!"
As fun as all that was, we, as Christian parents, wanted our kids to understand and celebrate the true reason for Easter. How we chose to do that was with honest, intentional conversation. Just like our granddaughter, our kids loved imaginative play, hide & seek and fun craft projects. As we dyed eggs Jesus was the center of our conversation - as in anything, it all comes back to Jesus!
"Jesus talk" was part of our natural daily conversation - so it wasn't awkward or uncomfortable. We made sure they heard over and over again that Easter is about what Jesus did for us. God sacrificed His one and only Son, and Jesus gave up His life so we could have new life in Him! We wanted to make sure they knew that new life only comes through faith, trust and believing in Jesus Christ.
As for the "secular" part of Easter, it was easy to tie in eggs, bunnies, spring flowers, green grass, and new buds on the trees because all these things represent new life! We wanted our kids to use these things as reminders of new life in Jesus Christ - which is available to all who will truly believe!
This is our story. This is how we did it and it worked for us. To be honest, It was the only option for our family. Whatever you choose to do, I pray that this Easter weekend your children hear and learn about the true meaning of Easter; and I pray that they are the awe and wonder of a "new life" in Jesus Christ that awaits them.
If you've never read of the story of Jesus last meal with his friend, Jesus in the garden, on the cross and raised from the tomb - I invited you to read these passage below. It's an amazing story of what Jesus Christ did for you. It's the greatest story ever told!
"The Last Supper" - Matthew 26-17-30
"Judas Betrays Jesus" - Matthew 26:47-56
"The Crucifixion of Jesus" - Matthew 27:1-54
"The Resurrection of Jesus" - Matthew 28
This Life Changing story is for you!
God created all things, therefore HE is King of kings and LORD of lords.
But there is some BAD NEWS. . . sin entered the world and because of that sin we were separated from God.
But there even WORSE NEWS . . . there is absolutely nothing we can do, on our own, to make that sin go away! No matter how good, or kind, or nice we are - we can't wipe the sin-slate clean.
BUT, there is GOOD news . . . God provided a way for us to come back to Him! That provision came through death on a cross.
But THE BEST news . . . Jesus sacrificed and gave up His life for mine on that cross! He lived a sinless life, yet He was willing to take all my sin and carry it to the cross - dying a sinners death so I wouldn't have to. This is a gift that Jesus freely gives!
This is a FREE GIFT for ALL who will believe!
You've heard the story and it's up to you to respond.
Maybe you have questions - ask them.
Maybe you've been struggling with this decision and today God is prompting you to surrender. . . don't wait!
- ADMIT to God that you are a sinner and you need a Savior.
- Sincerely BELIEVE that Jesus is the Son of God and He gave His life to save yours.
- CONFESS your sins and tell the world that you are a new creation in Christ Jesus?!
Are you ready to turn away from your sin and invite Jesus to come into your life as your Savior and Lord?
Are you ready to begin this new adventure with Jesus?
If you have questions, privately message me or ask a Christ-following friend to help you. We don't have all the answers, but we know the One who does!
Happy Easter!
