I don’t know that I have any profound Easter thoughts. The latest is that, with an 8 month old, I’m finding a lot of the sort of foundational, theological stories of my faith, to be well, hard to explain.
Someone gave us a book about Easter, and though like all her books, the kiddo has no idea really what I’m reading, I still find it a little hard to stomach. On the one hand, I think being able to communicate ideas and stories on a level that little children will understand is hugely important. High brow academics that speak in a way only other intellectuals can understand does not appeal to me at all. At the same time, I sometimes wonder if our attempt to communicate certain foundational truths to little kids, maybe causes them to be too watered down and lose the depth of their meaning.
Like, do you use Easter to tell kids about how there’s this dude named Jesus who was dead, but then he rose again, and walked around and wasn’t dead anymore? It’s a pretty crazy story, but then, so is Humpty Dumpty, amongst others. Could we just tell that story and leave it as it is, maybe for the kid to understand many more years down the road? It doesn’t seem like we think that’s a good option.
Instead, we communicate to kids from as early as they can comprehend, not just the story, but the theological meanings. We tell them they are sinners, we try and explain how Jesus dying and raising from the dead somehow has something to do with them being bad kids, but now they aren’t bad anymore, or something like that.
I think if we look to Jesus as an example, there was a whole lot of stories he told that he didn’t explain the meanings, though for most adults, a lot of the meaning was fairly obvious. I’m not saying we shouldn’t help kids to understand the details of the faith, I’m just having a hard time figuring out when.
I was talking to a friend the other day who teaches a little kids Sunday school class, and she was looking up Easter lessons to try and do. Disturbingly, she found bunches of lessons which involved kids actually participating in the crucifixion process. One lesson was to get bread and Cheeto’s and have the kids hammer the Cheeto’s into the bread thinking about how Jesus must have hurt when he was nailed to the cross. Are you kidding me?! I’m sure the lesson went on to discuss deep theological implications such as ‘substitutionary atonement’ and other foundational truths, but in kid friendly language.
Personally, I’m starting to think I’d rather just talk about the Easter Bunny.
Using Cheeto’s to act out the crucifixion? That’s the funniest thing I have ever heard.
Maybe they use cheez-whiz for the blood that was spilled for us.
We caused a semi uproar with the family when we told them we wern’t really doing the whole basket/bunny/eggs things. We just didnt feel like even starting off doing those things that have nothing at all to do with the resurrection.
Jason,
I did hear another one about them splattering red paint or something like the blood, I don’t know there is some creepy stuff out there.
I’d love to hear more about how to made the no easter bunny statement. I’m trying to address it with my families.
It wasn’t too hard a stretch since we already told them we’re not doing any Santa. I told my dad that at best it had nothing to do with Jesus and at worst it was vestiges of Pagan spring rituals, so we weren’t going to do it.. he just shook his head at me 🙂
Some people think we’re mean, but its really that we just don’t want to lie to our kids.. even if it is cute
We watched VeggieTales: An Easter Carol. This one did an excellent job of showing the true meaning and a little of the egg side. Bryan and i really enjoyed it. I don’t know how much Avery internalized what she saw; she still thought there would be eggs hidden outside in the morning. I’m not sure where that comes from because we have never participated largely in the whole Easter bunny side of things. I guess from relatives.