I should say happy Easter, eh? Or perhaps HOPE YOU HAD A NICE EASTER! would be more fitting seeing that the day is ending. What I'd like to know is how to make Easter Sunday the spiritually uplifting day that it's supposed to be. I believe that children are a gift from God. So how is it that they seem to drain all my spiritual energy? I miss 96% of the beautiful words in church because Suzie is wanting to discuss the duckies in her book, or Brenda is frantically scrambling for the door, or Garret just needs to tap his face on mine. Well now I'm sounding pretty sour and that's not what I mean to do...
I'm sadly not one of those mommies that really gets into Easter. I don't really care if my kiddos have new Springy Easter attire or even get to color eggs. (They don't care) We did bring plastic eggs w/ candy to the family gathering and the girls had a lovely time searching with their cousins. So I'm not a total humbugging lazyhead. And the gathering was warm and fuzzy and fun. My father-in-law made the most succulent ham. (I definitely got into that.)
But it all seems to be such a production when I see Easter being about two things: candy and Jesus. As long as we have candy and Jesus, we've got a successful Easter.
So like I was whining about before- the candy part is easy, but bringing in a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is turning out to be tricky. For now I may just have to settle for the occasional-
"Hey Brenda, who's that?" (pointing to a picture of our Savior)
"Jesus"
"Hey Suzie, who's that?" (same picture)
"Daddy"
...And assuming that Garret was extra cuddly today because maybe he knows. Maybe he gets it?
Well, I'm going to finish the day with a little scriptures and a little prayer and a renewed dedication to be like Jesus. 'Cause He lives.
HAPPY EASTER!!!
9 comments:
I found myself thinking something similar the other day, "I could worship at church a lot better if I didn't have to work so hard."
Then I had to laugh at the juxtaposed irony.
We have yet to dye eggs with our kids either. They don't care, and I'm saving myself from the mess and work! I think egg hunts are plenty for them. Holidays are SO commercial now...and it seems to be getting worse and worse. I've never gone all out, I'm just too lazy. Luckily the Grandmas make up for it!
Cam didn't get Easter attire, and Grandma just happened to give me Roo's dress for an upcoming wedding early and told me she could wear it. I've never spent extra money on Easter clothes.
I'm sure Garret does know. You say your children drain your spirituality? Well, I think you are around the Spirit on a daily basis...I know I feel it when I'm lucky enough to be in your home!!
well, we have the same problem on an almost weekly basis. i am speaking of the church thing. yesterday was AMAZINGLY good for my kids. i know we could always do better to prepare ourselves to feel the spirit amidst all the wrestling that goes on on our bench. i have people tell me all the time that they remember that phase...this to shall pass? i dont know. as for everything easter. i hate how its all about spending money and getting stuff. i did buy stuff for the kids from deseret book, however next year, i dont know. maybe we will just do an easter packet. or maybe i will just boycott the whole buying my kids anything on easter and just let them enjoy the egg hunt at grandmas. i havent decided. but i am with ya sister!
Easter and Christmas are both hard for me. I hate the commercialization of it all. I have been trying to figure out how to teach my kids the true meaning of each holiday and make it more spiritual. This year in their Easter Baskets I gave them bubbles, sidewalk chalk and and coloring pencils they can use at church. They did an Easter egg hunt with very little candy in the eggs and they each only got 6 eggs. Then we read the My First Easter board book story and they really seemed to enjoy and understand it. After church we watched Veggie Tales Easter. When they are this young I think you can't expect too much from them. But as they age each year, add a few more spiritual things and hone down the non-spiritual. I am still working on the Christmas thing.
I vote we move "The Messiah" from Christmas to Easter. It always brings the true spirit of the season to me. No wait, then that'd leave Christmas without .....
Remember when you were little and we always did the candy eggs, etc. on Saturday? That was my attempt at saving Sunday for .... dresses and ham ..... hmmmm.
Look at it this way: MANY people commemorate Easter by attending church. We do that EVERY Sunday. So in a sense, we do Easter every week!
No new clothes for my kids this year. We dyed eggs for FHE tonight and I bought them candy/presents off the 50% off racks today.
Check out http://ocharm.blogspot.com/ for some ideas of teaching about the last week of Christ's life/ministry. The most recent posts cover her week of Easter traditions/celebrations.She's one of my college roommates and she goes all out. I'd like to try her ideas...
I agree with Becca Jane. I believe that in those times, Lindsay, when you feel the least spiritual in your life, you are still more spiritual than most people during their most spiritual moments. I would like to have you help make our family's Easter and Christmas traditions more spiritual and meaningful. I think we did ok when our children were young. Then, to just keep their interest as teens, we chose activities that were not spiritual, but exciting and competitive. Those 'new' traditions are the ones that have continued to be part of our holiday activities with the grandchildren, and that has troubled me. Leave it to us to turn the most sacred days of the year into competitions. Your input would be very much appreciated, not to mention, sorely needed!
Right there with you...
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