Celebrate the Easter story vibrantly

FAMILY LOVE

Who doesn’t enjoy the thought of the coming of springtime with new flowers bringing their gorgeous blossoms, brown grass turning green once again, all with the help of spring rains and the warmer sun rays?

Spring makes us want to get outside, plant new flowers, take long walks and visit with our neighbors along the way. Spring calls kids to get outside to run and play with the freedom from winter coats or jackets. Life just feels more relaxing in spring, and our steps are a little lighter as we take in the fresh smell of the spring air.

With the announcement of spring, Easter comes calling. It is time to prepare for family gatherings with egg dyeing and egg hunting, eating ham and all the trimmings and going to church to celebrate Easter.

One may ask, “How did rabbits, young chicks and eggs become associated with Easter?” Well, the answer is that it represents new life, and for Christians, new life was given when Jesus walked out of the tomb alive. Christians use egg hunts for their young children to celebrate Easter without giving them information about Jesus’ death and resurrection that they are too young to absorb.

School-agers and older can hear and come to understand the true meaning of Easter and why Christians celebrate it. The story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus can be fully exposed to this age group. They are at the age of being able to come to understand the Christian’s belief that the resurrection of Jesus gives a Christian “new life.”

Do people in different countries celebrate Easter? Yes, there are people around the world that celebrate Easter. Some have fun by having egg-rolling races. Eggs are rolled down a hill or slope, and the first one to reach the bottom that hasn't broken is the winner. There is also an egg-knocking game played in lots of different countries. The game is played with hardboiled eggs. The object of the game is to hit everyone else's egg with a stick. The last player to keep their own egg unbroken and get it over the finish line is declared the winner. Children from all many different places in the world get to find Easter eggs in their yards and gardens on Easter morning.

If you are looking for a way to tell the Easter story to your children, below are some different activities to do on Easter to bring eggs and Easter together. Try any of the following for school-agers:

To tell about Jesus and the Easter story, provide five different-colored plastic eggs. Put one of these items in each of the eggs, leaving one empty:

• 1st Egg - A small, black-andwhite, cut-out copy of the face of Jesus

• 2nd Egg - Small twigs glued together like a cross

• 3rd Egg - Small stone or rock for the tomb

• 4th Egg - Empty egg for Jesus coming out alive from the tomb

• 5th Egg - Piece of candy to represent the sweetness of Jesus being alive Tell the resurrection story by using the five eggs.

With a crayon write one characteristic of Jesus on each egg before putting it in the dye such as: kind, loving, forgiving, encouraging, helpful, etc. If using plastic eggs, use a permanent marker. Fill them with candies (ones that won’t melt if it is warm outside) or hide them inside the house, if needed.

For school-agers: Before hiding the eggs or putting them in baskets, encircle each one with a colored strip of paper (or place the strip inside plastic eggs) that tells one small part of the Easter story. When the eggs have been found, the children must unscramble the story and put it in the right order. For example: Jesus, cross, stone, tomb, Jesus. Use the eggs to tell the story of salvation.

Because springtime and Easter are times to celebrate new life, to start anew, to plant and to grow, let us do all look at Easter as a time with a renewed sense of purpose to bring to life: To care for the world around us, to strive to be more kind and forgiving, have a giving spirit, and to pattern our lives after the one who gives new life.

Happy spring and Happy Easter!

Dianne Glasgow is a family and child specialist at the LSU AgCenter in Caddo Parish.

She can be reached at [email protected].