so with that knowledge many people ask...
Do we 'do' the Easter Bunny?
(and for that matter Santa, the Tooth Fairy, lepercauns, etc)
Yes...we 'do' the Easter Bunny...and all those others too...
how does that look?
how do we celebrate one of the most sacred (if not the most sacred) holiday on the Christian calendar yet allow a bunny to be part of it?
The same way we let the Big Jolly Elf be part of Christmas.
We don't let either the bunny or the big guy the center attraction on these special Christian days, but they are there...
Here is a look at how Easter morning/day unfolds at our place.
First...go back to Easter Eve...
we usually try to make the Resurrection Cookies so they're waiting for us Sunday Morning.
the kids also layout their Easter clothes and baskets the night before
Wake up Easter Morning...
Easter Baskets are waiting for the kids..
...what's in the baskets?
- candy, of course but not overboard
- Shoes...yep, the 'Easter Bunny' always brings their Easter shoes
- a book (this year the girl child is getting the Bible she's been wanting)
- a toy or two (this year they're getting some outdoor toys...1st Easter when we have a backyard!)
and then it's time to check out the cookies we made the night before
eat breakfast
get dressed and out the door for church...
...and early
we have to be there by 7:45-8 most Sunday's and Easter is no different!
The morning is spent at church...
and this Easter Sunday the boy child is getting baptized!
blog note...it makes my heart so happy that my husband has had (well, after Sunday that is!) the special privileged to baptize both of our children!...
Then home around 12:30...and the egg hunt...
we've always had grandparents visiting on Easter...
they leave church before we do on Sunday...and hide the eggs before we get there...
then by the time we've made it home on Easter Sunday the eggs are all hid, usually outside, but inside depending on the weather...
so the egg hunt happens...
and then Easter 'Dinner' preparation starts...
and light grazing happens
because dinner takes sometime to finish so we'll have some snacks to hold everyone off until the food happens, usually around 2-3'ish!
What you don't see in this 'schedule' of Easter Sunday is the dialog that happens all along the way...
and the weeks and days leading up to Easter.
We have been talking about Christ's arrival into Jerusalem
his activities during Holy week...
then Good Friday we've talked with the kids about Jesus laying down His life for us.
that he loved us so much he gave up His life so that me may have eternal life...
We have been writing these commandments on our hearts. Getting them inside of us and then inside our children. Talking about them wherever we are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talking about them from the time we get up in the morning to when we fall into bed at night. Tying them on our hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribing them on our doorposts of our homes. (adapted from Deuteronomy 6: 6-9 from the Message)
So to summarize
...yes...the Easter Bunny delivers some goodies in a basket...and then hides the eggs...
but that is just a few things on one day of the year...
we don't dwell on the large bunny thing...
we don't talk about him wherever we are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talking about him from the time we get up in the morning to when we fall into bed at night.
we don't dwell on the Bunny...or Santa...etc...
We DO... weekly, daily, hourly talk with our kids about Christ.
we use everyday moments to point out Christ and His love and amazing sacrifice to our children...
so what...a bunny comes and does some fun things...and leaves..
Christ came...died...rose again...giving us the gift of life...
and He lives...daily...in our hearts...our lives...
and part of life is being creative
(God CREATED the world...He loves being creative)
Holidays like Easter, Christmas, St. Patrick's Day, Valentines Day, Halloween, etc...are days to have fun, celebrate family times together, being creative...
So yes...
we believe that Jesus can 'share' the day with a bunny...
because we give everyday to Christ...
he won't mind us having some fun with a big bunny.
1 comment:
Childhood and make believe go hand in hand. They are only young for a little while and it's so fun as an adult to get to pretend along with them. We are at the point where my kids know that it's all just fun and games. They also know the real reasons behind Christmas and Easter. It's something we talk about all the time-Santa and Easter bunny don't come up in conversation much. Have a great Easter!
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