Resurrection Eggs, that is.
The hub-bub surrounding Easter isn’t quite as chaotic as that of Christmas, but it is still easy to lose the meaning of the holiday amidst all the other stuff. You know — Easter dinner, chocolate, eggs, the bunny…
And for those of us trying to serve healthier fare on holidays, just trying to figure out what to serve can cause enough of a distraction from what we ought to be focusing on.
Today I am being forced to slow down because there is a bug in our house. Seems like a flu or something, but it really has me down today. I still would like to make some Chocolate/Carob Coconut Nests or another treat for my kids, but that will happen only if I am feeling more chipper between tomorrow and Sunday.
Regardless, I’d like to encourage you to also take a step back before Sunday and think about what Easter is all about and then try to celebrate the true meaning with your family.
One of our favorite ways to do this is with Resurrection Eggs. We purchased our set years ago when Family Life first came out with them. Some of the eggs have cracked over the years and we have had to replace them with similar colors, but the eggs continue to serve their purpose. And though they may seem simple and cute, the story packs a real punch. We have used the eggs both for our own family celebration as well as in Sunday Schools, and for evangelistic outreaches.
Resurrection Eggs are a set of twelve plastic Easter eggs that each have something inside that represents a part of the Easter story. For example, inside the eggs, there is:
- a small donkey (from the triumphal entry), and
- a die (for the casting of lots for Jesus’ clothing) and
- cloth (the burial cloth)
- The final egg is empty to represent the empty tomb. (This one is the most fun to open as you get to watch the kiddos try to figure out why there is nothing inside :-)!)
There is also a sweet book called Benjamin’s Box that compliments the Resurrection Eggs. My boys, in fact, are sitting by my side reading it as I write.
Here is one step by step easy was to use the eggs:
1. Label the Resurrection Eggs in numerical order (1-12) with permanent marker.
2. Fill some (clean) plastic eggs with trinkets or healthy treats (dried fruit, coins, super balls, tops, “healthy” candy, etc.).
3. Hide all eggs (Resurrection and trinket-filled) either inside or out. Instruct children (and adults :-)) not to open eggs until later. Make sure to make a list of where the numbered eggs are hidden :-).
4. Have everyone hunt for eggs.
5. Have everyone gather together after all eggs have been found
6. Have an adult call out to find which child has found egg #1. Have the child open his egg and show the group what is inside. Ask the group what that item represents and then proceed to expand upon that part of the Easter story. Continue through the twelfth egg. For ease of teaching, the Resurrection Eggs set comes with a narration that you can use on its own or to augment your teaching.
7. Once the meaning behind the contents in the 12 eggs has been shared, everyone can enjoy the contents of the rest of their eggs.
Even if you don’t have your own set of eggs this year, it is still a great thing to buy and use even after Easter has passed. Celebrating the wonder of Easter is surely something that we can do even after the specific day has passed. Kind of like my philosophy of Slowing Down for Christmas. Don’t let everything just speed by. Savor the miracle and make some real memories with your loved ones.
How do you celebrate the true meaning of Easter?