Keeping Easter Meaningful

    My children are so excited about Easter.  They can't wait to go on an egg hunt and visit family.  My oldest son has been pestering me all day, trying to get me to cave and tell him what is going to be in his Easter basket.  ( I didn't cave!)  I don't have a problem with the tradition of getting a basket on Easter morning or searching for hidden eggs.  I have so many fond memories of these very things from my own childhood.  However, I want Easter to be more then a collection of traditions.  I want my children to know that Easter is about God's only Son showing His love for us by laying down His own life for ours.  I want them to be amazed by the miracle of Him rising from the dead.  I want them to realize that because of this miracle that they too can have eternal life.  I want them to have open hearts towards God and accept Jesus as their saviour.  I don't want these amazing truths to be lost in the hype of the holiday. 
    This year two of my children are old enough to really start grasping the reason that we celebrate Easter.  While I love that they are old enough to grasp truths and eager to learn I also find it to be intimidating.  Sharing my faith with my children is such an important task and I feel strongly that as a mother it is one of my main callings.  We have been reading Bible stories that focus on Jesus and His death and resurrection.  Today we went through a set of "resurrection eggs" that I picked up at the local Christian book store.  My children loved it!  They took turns opening the eggs as I read the corresponding passages.  They peppered me with questions and were in awe that someone could love them so much that they would die for them.  Watching their little faces light up was heartwarming.  I hope and pray that my little ones will hold the truth of God's word in their hearts as we celebrate tomorrow.


   John 3:14-17 
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;  so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him