Easter

So what is Easter? What is Good Friday? How do you explain these things to a four and six year old in a way that is understandable? I don't want to underplay the importance of these days but I also don't want to lose them in too many words.

I try to show them how important it is to appreciate each day you are given as it is a gift from God. We are blessed with everything in our lives, from those material things to the loving people that surround us every day. But how is Easter any different from a normal Sunday or Monday or whatever day it might be. How do you explain to anyone why Easter is the most important of Christian holidays? If you looked at the world around us, you would think Christmas was the most important. We all get off of work for Christmas. We talk about it for weeks before hand. We have huge celebrations, huge dinners and parties at Christmas time. What do we do for Easter? Eat some ham and gather with family. But we don't get any time off of work. It's just on a regular day off right? In fact, the Catholic Hospital system I work for doesn't even count it as a holiday. Is that really right?

Easter is the day that Jesus was resurrected, brought back to life, raised from the dead. He was put to death on the cross on Good Friday and came back from the dead on Easter. Brought back from the dead? Can you imagine if something like this happened today? What would any newscast report on this? Someone put to death on a cross? Brought back to life? And he did this for us to pay the penalty for our sins? How would we even explain this? The ultimate sacrifice. And we give it a day on a weekend? Not even any special time off or any special gatherings?

This Easter, I hope to celebrate the meaning of Easter. Help teach my girls what Jesus did for each and every one of us that believe in him. That we are to respect this gift we've been given.

I hope that this year we can all celebrate the special gift we've been given and share our gifts with all those in our lives. Happy Easter!