Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Easter...

Last week Caleb and I were talking about Easter.

Caleb: "It's crazy!  What do people who don't believe in Jesus think Easter is all about?  Why do they celebrate it?  Do they think it is about bunnies and eggs?"

I have been thinking about this ALL week.

My mom got Mia a book called What is Easter?  by Michelle Medlock Adams.  Here is what it says: (make sure you read it all the way to the end!)


The little bunny hops, hops, hops.
Is this what Easter means?
Is it about the Easter eggs
All filled with jellybeans?

Is Easter about hunting eggs?
I do that every year.
Does it mean eating chocolate stuff?
I ate my bunny's ear.

Is it about the baby chicks?
They're fuzzy, and they're fun!
I saw some Easter chicks for sale.
I really wanted one.

Is it about the Easter toys?
They're really fun, I think.
One time a bunny came to me.
His little nose was pink.

Is it about my brand-new dress?
And my new Easter hat?
Does it mean wearing shiny shoes?
I really do love that!

Is it about a big parade
With lots of pretty floats?
Is it about the Easter choir?
They sing the highest notes!

NO! That's not what Easter means.

Easter means much more than that.
It's all about God's son.
See, God sent Jesus down to earth
To die for everyone.

He had to die upon a tree
To save us from our sin.
But he was only dead three days,
And then he rose again.

Now that's what Easter really means!
It's quite a special day.
Jesus our Savior rose again.
Hooray!  Hooray!  Hooray!

Today, he sits right next to God
In Heaven up above.
He wants to live inside you too
And fill you up with love!

Okay, now I get it.
The Easter Bunny is okay,
And Easter eggs are fun.
But Easters' not about that stuff...

It's all about God's son.


I just put Mia's Easter basket together today and filled the eggs with jellybeans.  I have to remember though, that even though she is just 15 months, I need to be intentional on focussing Easter on what it really IS.  :)  The bunnies, eggs, candy, and fun clothes are all great, but THEY do not define Easter.

This children's book was a good reminder for me. :)

4 comments:

  1. I haven't ever seen that book, but I'll have to check it out! I love anything that reminds us to be purposeful about this time.
    Our tradition with our family is to spend the week before Easter reading through our Jesus Storybook Bible (I think there are 4 or 5 stories that surround the crucifixion and rising) and then going through the resurrection eggs that match the story each night. Our kids love doing the eggs together.

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  2. That's a great idea! Where did you get the eggs? I heard someone else talk about them. They got their eggs at Hobby Lobby, but I didn't see any there today.

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  3. We got ours at the Lifeway/Crossway (I can't keep those straight!) at E North St and Pleasantburg. We waited until after Easter when they were clearanced because ours were little like Mia and didn't know the difference. :o) Now they look forward to them every year!
    http://www.amazon.com/Resurrection-Eggs-Familylife/dp/1572297220/ref=cm_cmu_pg_t

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  4. I love that book! Wells got it last year and we read it all the time! Thanks for the reminder Nat! He Lives! Hallelujah!

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