Especially Easter

There are moments I want to impart a special set apart season in our family. It seems rather obvious to do Thanksgiving and Christmas...and I think there are also thoughts that Easter also ought to be made special...but I don't know how it ends up being almost an afterthought. I don't want it to be. I want this Holy Week that is upon us to be that...a Holy week.

I have mentioned in previous posts about traditions in the home. I read a book by Noel Piper called "Treasuring our Traditions" that has changed how I think about traditions. Basically, there are everyday traditions that we teach our children (like our quiet time with the Lord, family prayer etc), but there are also "especially traditions" those things that should be set apart (like birthdays, holidays etc). Well...Easter is no different. This book has some great ideas...some for when our kids are older...and I think they can grasp the true somber tone of what this week represents...and then the ultimate JOY of Easter morning...our Savior Risen! But, for little ones...to contemplate a whole Lent season might be more than they can do. She also mentions that doing the "little kid" version is only appropriate as long as they take it seriously. As soon as it becomes silly it is time to move on.

I thought I would share one of her ideas if you have little ones that we have been doing in our home. I think this will be the 3rd year to do it (last year we missed out as I was birthing Hope). Basically she has a recipe to make a play doh mountain and bake it...this mountain also has a space carved out to be the cave or tomb where Jesus is laid. Then you have pipe cleaner people to be the different people in the Holy Week story. On your own go through the scripture and assign different parts of the story to different days of the week. On Saturday nothing happens...no part of the story...it is a waiting...and then on Easter morning your Jesus pipe cleaner guy (gotta love it) gets to be standing on top on your play doh mountain arms raised in victory and then hearing your little ones see it for the first time and hearing their exclamations of him being alive is just wonderful.

I'm not saying to do this necessarily...but this is an "Especially" holiday...the whole crux of our relationship with our Lord is based on his death AND resurrection! I can't wait for Sunday to roll around and our week be set apart as something special.

I was also thinking that I wished there were songs that were more than something Sandy Patty sang that were for Easter(now don't get me wrong I love me some Sandy Patty and Larnell Harris duets...but...)so I was thinking about busting out some Christmas Carols with my kids this week and talking about how if Jesus hadn't been born then we wouldn't have cause for Easter...I mean think about some of the lyrics and then apply it to the night of his death as well...

So reader...find your kind of especially moment with your children this season....

"O Holy Night. The stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Saviors birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine! O night when Christ was born! O night divine! O night, O night divine!"

Can you imagine the night He died...the angel voices...the grief...and then a thrill of hope for a weary world when yonder breaks a new and glorious morn...you can't help but fall on your knees...O night divine...O night divine!

*pic from Easter last year as I was in the hospital having Hope and Wyatt and Caroline were home with my parents dying Easter Eggs...