He took MY place...

Easter Traditions

Pretty dresses

Bow ties and suits

Chocolate bunnies

Easter baskets

Jelly beans

Peeps

Lilies

Decorated Eggs

These are all signs of Easter, right?

Well, in this house we have always taught Julia and Mark, and now Micah that the best part of Easter is that it is all about Jesus and what he did for us on the cross.  The best part of Easter is all about Him and not about us.  The month of March we started our Resurrection Eggs (each colored egg has an object of the real Easter story...a nail, a whip, a crown of thorns, a white cloth for burial, and the last egg is empty to symbolize the empty tomb).  It's always my favorite way of re teaching the Easter story because little kids love visual aids and opening things as you read.

This was the first year that Julia got excited about Easter because of the chocolate bunnies...and that scared me.  "Julia, what is the BEST part about Easter?"  Right away she knew I was talking about Jesus.  "That Jesus died for us on the cross."  "Yup! And that he ROSE again...He's alive!"  I don't blame the kids for getting excited to get Easter candy, or see family, or get presents from their grandparents and aunts, but  I do try to remind them that the best part of Easter is that Christ makes all things new...that he died and rose again for me, because of my sin.  That Jesus loves me so much that he died in my place.  He endured pain and suffering on my behalf...that is way better than a basket full of candy.

Isaiah 53:5
New King James Version (NKJV)5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,He was bruised for our iniquities;The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,And by His stripes we are healed.

I wish all of you a Happy Easter!  He is Risen!