I really hate the commercialization of religious holidays. Christmas is way too much about presents for one. But it is the commercialization of Easter that I just don't want to have much to do with at all. When it comes right down to it, Easter is the celebration of the reason why our life is even worth living. In my opinion it is the most sacred holiday. President Gordon B. Hinckley once said,"Now, the next thing of which I am certain, and of which I bear witness, is the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without it life is meaningless. It is the keystone in the arch of our existence. It affirms that we lived before we were born in mortality. Mortality is but a stepping-stone to a more glorious existence in the future. The sorrow of death is softened with the promise of the Resurrection. There would be no Christmas if there were no Easter." LDS.org - Ensign Article - The Things of Which I Know
It is that last statement, "There would be no Christmas if there were no Easter." that gets me.
Of course, we have talked about this with our children and her WONDERFUL primary teachers (Pamela Hubble - you know who you are!) has taught her and so on. But you never really know how much your children hear and internalize. We are told over and over that they really are listening even we we think they aren't.
As we were coloring our Easter eggs this year Lizzy wanted to color a picture with crayons first. When she was done I wasn't quite sure what she had drawn. She looked at me with surprise that I didn't know."This is a picture of Jesus on the cross Mommy! He is the best part about Easter!"
She is listening. More and more and more I am struck with the concept that our children are so much more capable of spirituality than we know. Of course they are !! (That is a subject for a whole different post that is formulating inside of me. It will be long as I am incapable of writing short posts! I've given up worrying about that. :) I'll have to write it in parts.)
I enjoy watching Lizzy at Violin. She is adorable! I enjoy your posts! I agree completely with your thoughts on Easter.
ReplyDeleteYou have a way with words and so does your sweet little daughter.
Well said. I too love Easter, and I find great joy in celebrating it with my children (more so than Christmas). It's a sweet, fun, and somewhat quiet holiday without the stress of gifting, hostessing, and merrymaking.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone in this century used the word "merrymaking?" Who am I?
ReplyDeleteSabra, you make me laugh. You must be reading some turn of the last century literature. :)I think I will now add "merrymaking" to my writing vocab. You'll have to look for it in hidden ways! :)
ReplyDeleteVery nice post...and so true. I believe children have an amazing capacity to understand important spiritual concepts.
ReplyDeleteAt the end you said you had a long post you wanted to write, and that you would have to do it in parts. Isn't that true of so many things? There are some things I don't do...that I should...because it would take so long. I need to take that "parts" approach!