Anticipation

There is a lot of this

quite a bit of this

some of this

even some of this

this

Let's face it. Easter is a pretty stinking cute time of of year. 

This year there have been lots of cold days, so the trees are just barely beginning to bud. The dogwood outside the bay window isn't showing much hope of having its symbolic blooms ready to celebrate the Resurrection.

Inside, though, we've been trying to get ready. Oh, we still do some of that adorable stuff up there. I enjoyed it as a kid. I enjoy it as a grown up. I don't think there is any harm in allowing children to actually enjoy sacred days. We don't want them to think of them as drudgery, do we? Honestly. Do we? Can't they enjoy themselves at the same time as learning about the saving grace of God provided through the death of Jesus on the cross? Can't they think that it is wonderful to celebrate God's victory over sin and death on the day of Jesus' resurrection? I hope so. 

So we do the cute stuff. We also do some deep thinking and quiet reflecting. Starting on Palm Sunday, we read about Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.

Luke 19:37-40

English Standard Version (ESV)

37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Jesus deserves to be praised. So we began learning this song.

We read this book

Later in the week, we read about Jesus' last supper with his disciples.

Luke 22:19

English Standard Version (ESV)

19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

We talked about bread. How it sustains us, fills us, gives us life. How Jesus does the same.

We happen to be reading this book for school. The timing was perfect, and we were able to dig into Passover a little bit more than we have done in previous years. It is amazing to see the kids grow in their understanding. It really enriches the holiday. 

We had our very own special Passover meal with some of the recipes from Mrs. Katz and Tush as well as a Seder plate. We talked a lot about the symbolism of each of the elements included on the plate. What did it mean for the Jewish people, and what does it mean for Christians. How does Jesus' death truly fulfill the symbolism of the Passover lamb? How does he save us? How does he set us free?

Before bed, we read this book, the story told in a different way, to help solidify our understanding

And here we are in the waiting. In the expectation between Jesus' death and His glorious resurrection. The boys feel that expectation because they are looking forward to hunting for eggs. Decorated real eggs are symbols of the rebirth and renewal that Jesus experienced and that we experience when we accept Him as our Savior (not just some vague recollection of some mostly-forgotten pagan goddess).

So on Sunday we will get up and dress in some of the nicer things that are hanging in the closet, not because we are trying to impress God or anyone else with our finery, but because it is a day of grand celebration. If it were a wedding, we would dress up. If it were a night out on the town with our friends, we would dress up. If it were a date with our beloved...wait...it kind of IS a date with our beloved. We will dress up.

After that, we will let the kids run amok in the back yard looking for treasures and sit down to a lovely meal with our family. And we will break bread together. And we will remember that we are His. That He paid the ultimate price for us because He loves us. We are His treasures.