Our Lord is Risen! Hallelujah! Easter was always my favorite holiday as a child. Take a minute and think back to how you celebrated Easter as a child. What did you look forward to? The Easter basket filled with candy? Maybe you looked forward to searching for colorful hidden eggs. Did you cherish the moments you spent dying eggs with your brothers and sisters? Holidays are special times for families to create traditions together that result in lasting memories. However, I wonder how often the traditions we create point our children back to the real reason for the celebration. The Easter eggs and pretty dresses and hunts in the back yard are meaningless if we don’t take time to share with our children the reason for our joy….the promise of Eternal Life!

This Lenten season, I would like to share with you a few family activities that could very easily become a new tradition in your home and help you share the story of Jesus with your children.
This week I’ll share with you Resurrection Eggs

Resurrection Eggs: This 12 day devotional journey will walk your child through the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Each day, beginning on March 25th egg and read the passage as a family. To begin, you’ll need 12 plastic Easter Eggs and an empty egg carton. Your children may enjoy decorating their egg carton and personalizing it. Have each egg filled ahead of time, with the passage tucked inside the egg as well. Your child will open an egg each day to reveal the surprise and read the passage.

Egg 1: Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey while people praise Him.
Item to place in egg: A piece of a palm branch or leaf.
Passage: Matthew 21:1-11

Egg 2: Mary poured perfume on Jesus’ feet to worship Him.
Item to place in egg: cotton ball sprayed with perfume or cologne
Passage: John 12:2-8

Egg 3: Jesus shares the Last Supper with His disciples.
Item to place in egg: A piece of bread or a cracker
Passage: Matthew 26:17-30

Egg 4: Judas betrays Jesus.
Item to place in egg: 3 dimes
Passage: Matthew 26:14-16

Egg 5: Jesus is arrested and tried before Pilate.
Item to place in egg: a small piece of rope
Passage: Matthew 27:11-26

Egg 6: The soldiers put a crown of thorns on Jesus and mock Him.
Item to place in egg: a thorn or a piece of Chex cereal broken in half
Passage: Matthew 27:27-31

Egg 7: Jesus carries His cross.Item to place in egg: Glue two small toothpicks together to make a cross.
Passage: John 19:16-18

Egg 8: Jesus is crucified. Item to place in egg: a nail
Passage: Matthew 27:32-44

Egg 9: Jesus dies. Item to place in egg: a small piece of sponge soaked in vinegar
Passage: Matthew 27:45-56

Egg 10: Jesus is buried. Item to place in egg: a small rock
Passage: Matthew 27:57-61

Egg 11: The women go to prepare Jesus’ body. Item to place in egg: spices
Passage: Mark 16:1-3

Egg 12: The tomb is empty! All the women find is the linens Jesus had been wrapped in. Item to place in egg: a small piece of white cloth
Passage: John 20:1-18

Next week I’ll share: Easter Story Cookies