Easter Love Story

Easter was the first holiday that I remember as a child. One morning I awoke and found candy on the coffee table in the living room just for me. Could there be anything better? I didn’t understand why candy suddenly emerged, but I remember loving it. Every morning after that day I ran to the coffee table to see if there were candy left for me from “The Bunny.” Day after day I ran out and checked the coffee table, until one day there was candy…again—one year later. 

No wonder it was my first recollection of any holiday, for a child candy is the bomb.

As I got a little older my mother would “play” the Easter Bunny in our housing complex at the community clubhouse. She loved it and the children loved her.

There was something about that bunny that made Easter so exciting.

Children love Easter. Every year as parents dropped their children off for the Easter children’s program at our church, there was a level of excitement that exceeds all other events.

Perhaps it’s the candy they are all jacked up on?

Maybe it’s the fun service they are anticipating?

Maybe it’s a bit of both?

As a small child I had no idea why I was getting candy. It didn’t matter, I was getting candy! No one explained to me about where the idea of Easter originated—I wouldn’t learn about the significance of Jesus rising from the dead and what that meant for me and for everyone.

If you do give your children candy, don’t stop there, explain to them what you believe as a family. Use the excitement for candy to tell them about something greater. It’s the greatest love story ever told how Jesus became a man and died for all of us so that we could be saved.

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  -Romans 5:8

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9-10

It wasn’t until I was an adult that I fully grasped the meaning of Easter. It wasn’t about a bunny, it wasn’t about candy—it was about the best gift ever given.  For me, it is the reason I believe what I believe. I grew up the daughter of an atheist, The Bunny: A Road to Jesus.

Jesus died for us and then rose from the dead! There is no greater gift. There is no greater act of love.

As Easter approaches let’s not forget to tell our children what Easter is truly about. Yes, candy is the bomb, but knowing Jesus is better than candy. Knowing Jesus is better than The Bunny.

Celebrate this year with not only family traditions, enjoying every minute with your loved ones, but also with thanksgiving and praise to the One who gives all gifts generously.

For more from Lucille Williams check out her books The Impossible Kid: Parenting a Strong-Willed Child with Love and Grace, and for your marriage, From Me to We, and The Intimacy You Crave. And Turtle Finds His Talent for ages 2-6. We invite you to subscribe to LuSays today for regular encouragement.