The Legend of the Easter Egg

As a mother of five little ones though, I always struggle with the same issues. How do I keep the focus on Christ and off the "Easter Bunny" when all of society celebrates with gifts and such.
What Easter traditions can I adopt or keep in the family, yet keep the focus on Christ. My other thought is that i do not want to be a "Scrooge" of the season. There are so many "fun" moments to be had when you are under ten years old.

Well this year I feel like I finally found that balance for our family. It only took me seven years! Over the years I have invested in some awesome books to read with the kids over the Easter season in addition to scripture reading. I have also found some great DVDs of the Crucifixion and Resurrection that the kids really enjoy. A few years ago I made a set of "Resurrection Eggs" at a moms group at church... the kids love those. Of course over time we lost some pieces, then more pieces. I couldn't remember the order and all the things that went into it so I found one at the local Christian book store. I also got the book that goes with them. That is fun to do one egg every day for twelve days... then added with devotions or other books to read at breakfast, lunchtime, or dinner are great. Then you throw in a video here and there... a few Easter projects and WahLah! This year I am excited to try having our first passover meal together. The girls and I are going to try to make unleavened bread and we will have it with grape juice for dinner. Isaac is going to read the Last Supper scripture and then we will have a "Last Supper" together. In the future, when the kids are older and I am not pregnant I want to try fasting Saturday until Sunday Easter Bunch!

Every year the kids love to decorate eggs, but I wanted there to be more meaning for them... I had purchased a little child's version of the Legend of the Easter a few years ago and loved it. Then this year I started reading the Lamplighter copy of the original "Legend of the Easter Egg" written by Christoph von Schmid in 1816. The kids and I have been reading it at night before bed, though Drew (18 month old) runs around or goes to bed first, the rest of the kids enjoy laying down and just listening to mommy. This book really captures the meaning of thankfulness and caring for others sacrificially. In addition, there is a funny little story about chickens and hatching eggs... that incidentally can be an allegory for Christ raising from the dead. Coming out of the tomb after three days. I would highly recommend this book. It is only about 94 pages.

Easter is such a Sacred Holiday for us at the Tolpin house. It is not just the day of Easter though, it is the season and the anticipation leading up to Easter. Being I was raised Lutheran, every year I have the expectation of going to church on Maunday Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Unfortunately, that is one of the things I feel is missing in most churches today. In fact, in some church es you are lucky to hear of the triumphal entrance into Jerusalem that Jesus made on Palm Sunday. I personally believe it is included in the Bible to be remembered just as Christmas Eve is. It is the anticipation. The fulfillment of prophecy and so forth. Our children benefit from traditions. My husband and I have traveled to Italy, London, France, Spain, Argentina, and St. Lucia. As we visited these countries we saw some amazing Cathedrals and Sanctuaries. We learned in visiting the famous mural God reaching out his hand to man... that Michaelangleo was asked to paint the doma for many reason one being they believed that kids learned better from visual paintings and drawings. They wanted them to tell the stories of God so the children and deaf could understand God. Isn't that awesome. Even long ago they saw that having beautiful art works for the glory of God could teach the gospel. I am not suggesting we start paintings murals all over our church walls. However, I would like to say there is something to ritual or tradition that children can learn many great things from. It is proven that children psychologically learn better with repetition. Where is the repetition of teaching the importance of the sacred days: Christ's birth, crucifixion and resurrection?

Are families teaching about Christ love and his miracles on earth as well as his raising from the dead in the home daily? Because just hearing a lesson on Sunday morning in Sunday school is not going to cut it. I realize I am going out on a limb here and I have a long way to go before I can say I am doing all I suggest on a daily basis. But that is the goal right!

Over the years it has been important to me to not only educate my children so they have a knowledge of scripture and how Jesus fulfilled these Old Testament prophecies, but also that they are personally impacted by the sacrifice God made in sending His only Son for the Forgiveness of our sins. I want them to know even at a young age what Jesus did for us. To the full extent, that he was betrayed just as they will probably feel betrayed by a friend someday. That he was unjustly accused of wrong doing when He was innocent. That happens to every body at some point in their life. I want them to know that it was Jesus' choice to Obey His Father in Heaven. That he sacrificed His life on Earth so we could go to Heaven. I want them to know how he suffered. And most of all that he loves us and He rose again from the dead after beating satan. That he lives in us today and that he sent us the Holy Spirit to guide us in all our choices in life.

I am so glad I found these resources to help me a long in my journey of teaching the little ones He has entrusted me with. So here they are:

"The Legend of the Easter Egg" by Christoph von Schmid
Lamplighter Edition

"The Story of Easter" by Christopher Doyle & John Haysom

"He Is Risen Indeed" Paintings by David Erickson,
text from Holy Bible, English Standard Version

"The Story of the Resurrection Eggs in Rhyme and Song"
(Miss Patty Cake) Little kids love this
Resurrection Eggs

"The Parable of the Lily" by Liz Curtis Higgs

DVDs:
"The Easter Story Keepers" by Zonderkidz

*The Animated "PASSION" by NEST FAMILY
(for the whole family)

"The Easter Promise" and "The Witness" by Vida Entertainment

May you and your family have a blessed and sacred Easter Season!