Well… Garnet and I aren’t the type who go all out for holidays. We try to make them sweet and special for the kids but in our hearts we are just the kind of people who aren’t big on dates.
Easter… I stood in isles of chocolates and spring colored STUFF yesterday till I got a headache. I then went and found some fair trade chocolates at another location and ‘sigh’ that was enough for me. I find a lot of it ways heavy on me. This makes me all the more thankful that the kids get to enjoy the run around hunt in there grandparents back yard and the treats once in the house, the beautiful ham their grandmother loving made them and the pretty dresses and handsome spring colored outfits they get to wear all day without the heaviness of understanding that a parent feels as they wade through the commercialization of it all.
Easter aside, I love Jesus. My chest feels heavy with emotion as I consider what he did on the cross and the heaviness lifts as soon as I think of him lifting forth from the grave three days later.
As I walk through this year, having felt it was labeled ‘Right Sacrifice’, I am aware of the importance of reflecting on the cross. I am also a bit surprised that this time of year didn’t jump out more at me because of my years label but I think this will make me reflect all the more the rest of the year and grow in thankfulness, all the more, for Jesus and his PERFECT example of sacrifice.
Garnet and I sat the kids down today, before we went off to our entertaining Easter events, and we told them a little about what we think of when Easter arrives, meaning we told them a little about our Jesus. I hope seeds of love where planted that will spring forth in time.
Happy Easter, have a lovely spring:)
TTFN
It’s definitely counter-cultural to tell our kids that Easter is about Jesus and not about bunnies that lay chocolate eggs. I like chocolate as much (maybe more!) than the next gal, and if we had a holiday for it I think I’d be up for it, but not Easter! Good for you walking away from the pastel packages and buying some fair trade treats instead. TTV used to have chocolate eggs this time of year but didn’t have any this year – I was disappointed.
When the world celebrates spring and new life at Easter time they are on the right track but it means nothing if Christ and the new life WE receive thanks to his victory over death, sin, and satan are not the focus!