Holidays/Faith/Opinion/Advice

By Summer Lane

Photo: Deposit

Easter signals the beginning of the spring season, when tulips begin to poke through snow-laden garden beds and colorful blossoms burst from the treetops. The celebration of Easter – of Christ’s beautiful resurrection that offers the world singular and much-needed hope and restoration – is a reminder that all things can be new again, whole again, and renewed once more.

This Easter, there is so much in the world going wrong. And perhaps, friend, there is something in your life that is going wrong, too. Life can be difficult, but Easter is a wonderful time to pause and reflect on the blessings of God’s goodness in rescuing us out of the darkness and into the light.

From the beginning of Holy Week until the weekend, here are five ways to reflect on the importance and impact of Easter with your family!

Monday: dye Easter eggs and talk about Palm Sunday

Pull out those plastic cups, hard-boil those eggs, and grab the dye! Easter egg coloring is a great way to connect with your kids and have meaningful conversations about the story of the holiday week.

When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, the people covered the streets with palm branches and welcomed him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:1-11)

It was the beginning of the end of Christ’s earthly journey and took Him one step closer to meeting his God-ordained destiny of dying on the cross for our sins. The people initially welcomed Him with praise and adoration – and just a short time later, many of those same people likely called for his crucifixion.

Tuesday: make a tasty treat and reflect on Christ’s ministry

One of my all-time favorite spring treats to make is carrot cake – I just love the texture of the sponge and the delicious pairing with cream cheese frosting. I’m a firm believer that baking or cooking together is a great way to make precious memories with your kiddos. This year, choose a sweet treat of your own – whether it’s carrot cake or a farm-fresh quiche – and whip it up together!

In Matthew 14:13-21, he fed a crowd of five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fishes – one of his most beloved miracles recorded in the Bible. Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35), and when we cook, bake, and eat, we can think about Him!

Wednesday: visit with a friend or with family

The Bible tells us that it is good for us to fellowship with other believers, and Easter is a wonderful time to do exactly that! (Hebrews 10:24-25 is one verse that talks about this)

Find time to visit with a good friend or family member this week and simply enjoy their company. Catch up on life, and reflect on how wonderful it is to know that because of Easter, you’re both in the same wonderful heavenly family!

If your friend or family member is not saved – perhaps this is the perfect time to share the gospel with them, too!

Thursday: go for a walk and get outside

If the weather allows it (hello from California!), take some time to admire the beauty of springtime. Take a walk with your kids, dust the cobwebs off your bicycles, and get outside in the sunshine. Plant a small vegetable garden, sprinkle wildflower seeds in the backyard, start a ladybug garden, or go visit your local zoo! God’s creation is perhaps the most vivid illustration of His love for us.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows,” says James 1:17.

Friday: Good Friday

This is the saddest part of the story of Jesus – it’s a remembrance of the day He died on the cross, when He said, “It is finished,” and gave up his spirit in death (John 19:30). However, as Christians, we know that this is not the end of the story – it’s just the beginning!

To honor Good Friday, perhaps you and your family can attend your local church’s Good Friday evening service. It’s a sacred way to acknowledge the importance of what Christ did that day on the cross.

If you can’t get to church, maybe you can watch a movie about the importance of the Easter story. For little kids, the Minno app has a lot of really great Easter cartoons available that discuss the crucifixion (my little one especially loves “Rez: The Rock that Rolled”).

Take some time to pray with your kids before they go to bed and respect the sad memory of Jesus dying on the Christ – but emphasize that it foreshadows a coming victory on Sunday morning!

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The opinions in this article are specific to its author, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the entire Counter Culture Mom team. This specific article was written by Summer Lane, and may not be reproduced, except to quote for reviews or interviews, without the express permission of the author. 

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Summer Lane is the #1 bestselling author of 30 books, including the hit Collapse Series. She is an experienced journalist and columnist who reports on news within the U.S. and abroad. She is the Associate Editor for Right Side Broadcasting Network. Additionally, she owns Write Revolution News, where she provides a rapid-fire feed of the nation’s most important America First news and events.

Summer is also a mom and wife who enjoys rural country living, herding cats and ducks, and reading fiction. She is passionate about writing on women’s issues, parenting, and politics from a theologically-grounded perspective that points readers to the good news of the gospel.

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