You know it’s April already, right? Well, it kind of snuck up on me. I had great plans for Easter and Holy Week in my head. We’d bake cookies or cupcakes, make hot cross buns, perhaps even plant one of those resurrection gardens that’s been circling around.
But, nope. Not happening.
I think it was Thursday I realized Easter would be the following Sunday and I had no plans for child festivities—or adult festivities…whatever those would be.
Of course, my initial good girl response was, “Oh, no! I’m ruining my children by not teaching them the importance of Easter and Holy Week.” Throw in a few mental gymnastics of how I might cram our week with activities that have to be done for Easter to be special, ties to sew for Sunday clothes, and Easter baskets to fill, and I was ready to produce a stress-filled, activity heavy week all to prove to my children that Easter is more than jelly beans, dyeing eggs, and hats.
*deep breath*
Good thing common sense overruled my crazy. Could I really ruin Easter? And will making Hot Cross Buns show my kids how important Jesus is? As sweet as it would be to make a resurrection garden and Easter egg window hangings, would sacrificing peace of mind and replacing it with a just-get-it-done good girl mentality really preach Jesus?
No. At least not for me.
While celebrating Holy Week and Easter with crafts and food is fun and can bring big truths to young hearts is it really what Easter is all about?
Here’s the thing: Jesus, he still died. He still stayed in the grave for 3 days. He still rose again on the third day. My sins are still paid for.
What do you do when you don’t plan for Easter?
We take a nature walk and make our own Easter centerpiece. Maybe we will make hot cross buns this week and perhaps we can convince Grammie to make this Resurrection Cake when we come to visit. (*hint, hint*)
We take in the simple joys and share the simple truths.
Whether or not my boys are wearing cute, homemade ties or if we can even coordinate our clothes for a family picture, Jesus still died, rose again, and lives now.
Let other mama’s run around trying to fit meaning into every activity. It’s not going to be me this year.
Hope lives, Jesus reigns, and Easter’s still important whether we make empty tomb cookies or not.
I can’t ruin Easter.
This, Jessica, THIS is why I want to be like you when I grow up … because we simply can’t mess up Easter or Resurrection Sunday or anything else … HE HAS ALREADY DONE THE WORK!!
The grace in this post is overwhelming … and sweet balm to this tired soul. Thank you for sharing the words I think Jesus would speak over all of us.
TeriLynne! I always think I want to be like you– a strong, confident women who knows her Word. I didn’t even mean for it to be a grace, but this is the grace I need…the kind I don’t have to work for.
so very true. That’s how I felt about Christmas & Advent. Easter is a bit different. I feel like I screwed up Lent with my desire to be more intentional on my blog with Isaiah 58, but really…I was living it and didn’t have time to document it to the world. Often times, I’m glad I get to live in that grace.
This week is no different and I’m glad you are feeling the peace of this beautiful week. Today we read (I told more than read) of the sinful woman. We can not overspiritualize this basic truth of God’s love coming in human form through Jesus & he did battle with the snake & won. I learn more about Jesus as I see him through my girls eyes, and those hot cross buns, resurrection gardens, etc, etc in their beauty…are not top priority on our list. I like that you see the same.
I totally ruined my Lent. Not that I gave up anything, but lost the focus after about 5 days. Thankfully Jesus still forgives my sins and I can’t be made “more good” by doing something, which is really the message my good gil-perfectionist heart needs.
thank you for this. I know exactly what you are talking about here. so just thank you. this was encouraging to me!