Easter Eggs

 

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, ~Matthew 28:5-7

Let's see, it's Easter 1960. Grandma and Mama have sewn our Easter outfits. Mama and I have purchased our hats and gloves. Everything is ironed and laid out for Sunday morning. Only the Easter baskets are left to prepare. 

Mama brought out the vinegar and dye tablets, a coffee cup (not a mug) for each tablet, a spoon and an old towel. Leftover baskets with fresh plastic or paper grass were placed on the table beside the towel. The Easter bunny didn't leave our baskets. We helped dye the eggs in the stinky colored vinegar. We were excited to balance the hardboiled eggs on our spoons and dip them in the cups. Sometimes there was a wax pencil to draw designs before we dyed the eggs. The dyed eggs were gently lifted from the cups and placed on the towel to dry. Then we decorated our own baskets with eggs and candy wrapped in colored foils. But never were we told anything about how eggs were related to Easter. 

When my own children were small, we often visited my grandma, who was nearing 90 at the time. The discussion came up about dying eggs with my babies. Somehow, we worked around to the subject of how eggs have anything to do with Easter. I had no idea, and she was shocked. 

"Why, the shell represents the tomb!" surprised no one had taught me that. "There's unseen life inside an egg. When it's ready, the chick will burst forth like the resurrection." 

Well, that made perfect sense. Why hadn't I even thought of that? Of course, our hard boiled eggs had no life left in them, but a fresh egg certainly could, especially the farm eggs Grandma was used to gathering. 

There are several ideas as to the origins of colored eggs and spring celebrations. We too can derive some meaning for today's children. So what can we say about Easter eggs? 

• Fresh eggs encapsulate life with the appearance of death, just as the tomb, in death, held the answer to eternal life in Jesus.
• Eggs need 3 weeks to hatch. Jesus lay in the grave 3 days before he was resurrected.
• The hatchling uses its beak to crack the shell and come out. Jesus used his voice to call Lazarus from the tomb.  A great earthquake and angels announced Jesus's resurrection.  One day, His voice will call us from the grave as well.  
• Easter eggs are dyed or painted in a variety of colors. Jesus died for everyone of every color. 
• We hunt for eggs hidden all around. Jesus goes wherever people are found to bring salvation to anyone who will believe on Him.
• We gather the eggs in a basket. Jesus will gather us and take us one day to our heavenly home. Until then, we gather in our churches to worship the One who has overcome death and the grave.

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ~Romans 10:9

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins. Thank you for sending reminders all around us that you are the giver of life eternal through Jesus.  Help us remember to tell our children that you are the Creator God and that everything and everyone has a purpose in worshipping you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Hey Kids: 

Easter egg hunts are usually for the little kids but you can play a part as well. 

• Help little ones learn to dye eggs. Search out natural dyes, and use brown eggs instead of white. 
• As you dye the eggs, relate the Easter story to younger children who may not yet know or understand.
• Relate to the little ones how the shell is like a tomb, and a baby chick grows inside the shell when left for the hen to keep warm.
• Let the little ones know Jesus loves all the children of the world.  Sing "Jesus Loves the Little Children." 
• When we hunt for eggs, we are like Jesus, who looks for people who love Him and want to belong to Him. 
• We put our eggs in our baskets. When we gather in our churches to worship, we are gathered together like eggs in a basket, every color and every nation. 

Life

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 

~I Kings 18:37

January is Sanctity of Life month. The Supreme Court heard the case that returned the decision of abortion back to the states. Essentially, the decision is still up to us, the people in our state, our counties, and our homes. The decision overruled Roe V. Wade. But Roe v. Wade was not the first decision that needed to be overturned. When Elijah the prophet lived under King Ahab, the land was filled with the worship of Baal. In that worship, a fire was built in the idol's body and children were sacrificed on the hot arms of the god. 

It sounds absolutely inhumane, unthinkable, sickening. So is the killing of unborn children in the act of abortion. I won't go into detail. There are plenty of details available on the internet. Suffice it to say, we don't burn babies on the arms of idols anymore. We rip them to pieces straight from the womb. 

Elijah proposed a contest to see who was God, Baal or the God of Israel. When the people saw that Baal could not light a fire on his own altar, they looked to see God's power. When Elijah followed God's directions, fire came down from heaven consuming the sacrifice on the altar. 

And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God. ~I Kings 18:39

How long have we allowed the sacrifice of our babies? Since Roe v. Wade? How long before we desire spiritual leadership? How long before we pray to restore our hearts to worship God? 

Heavenly Father, may we cry out in repentance as the people of Israel did, declaring you to be God. May we plead for revival in our land. May our lives demonstrate the sanctity of life you have created. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Hey Kids:

Did you suck your thumb when you were little? Sometimes babies suck their thumbs while they are still in their mommy's tummy.

Did you know you could hear your mom and dad, music, and much more before you were born? 

What characteristics did God give you while you were growing in your mommy's tummy? Whose eyes? Whose nose? Whose personality? Who does Grandma say you are "just like"?

Celebrate Life

         

photo courtesy of Pixabay

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. ~Psalms 139:14 KJV

A friend of mine posted a picture this week of a swan walking around Lake Junaluska, NC. Its majestic swagger was evident even in a still photo. I wondered if he was looking for a mate or a place to show her for a nest. 

I follow the Wonderfilled Days blog, though I no longer teach or homeschool or even have children at home, I love reading her explorations and connections to children's literature. Part of her email this week was about The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White. She brought to the reader's attention that at the end of most chapters Sam, posed a question, a thought provoking question. 

    "I don't know of anything in the entire world more wonderful to look at than a nest with eggs in it. An egg because it contains life is the most perfect thing there is. It is beautiful and mysterious. An egg is a finer thing than a tennis ball or a cake of soap. A tennis ball will always be just a tennis ball. A cake of soap will always be just a cake of soap until it gets so small nobody wants it and they throw it away, an egg will someday be a living creature."

~The Trumpet of the Swan

We value so many things, our grandmother's china cabinet, or our dad's '67 Mustang. We value the homerun baseball signed by our favorite player and the concert tickets from that special night but how valuable is a life? Tennis balls, fragrant soap, china, cars, signed balls, and tickets are just stuff, even those with memories attached are still just stuff but an egg, any egg is life itself. It will grow and transform into that beautiful cygnet, a bluebird, a salamander, or a platypus. Watching a mother robin tend her nest and seeing the newly hatched chicks is one of my favorite childhood memories. But these are not the only eggs that contain life. 

We may not be able to see the horse's egg or our dog's egg, or even a goat's egg but they all originate as an egg. Neither can we see the human egg inside the mother's womb but it is there growing with God forming the little person's every detail. He creates each human with love and a purpose. Whether there is only one child or twenty, whether the child is born into a family or adopted a child is still created with purpose and loved by God. 

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. ~Psalms 128:3-5

So much is happening to destroy the lives of our children physically, mentally, and spiritually. The swan builds a nest six feet wide to lay her eggs and protect her cygnets. The cob (male swan) swims close by guarding her and the young. Like swans, we need strong homes with watchful fathers and mothers who "fuss" over our families.  I pray we watch carefully over our children from conception to their flight from our nests. 

Father, give us a new heart for children and families. Help us guard them against Satan's entanglements and create a home where the wonders of the Lord and His salvation are shared daily. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Hey Kids: 

Have you read The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White? Perhaps you have had it read to you. 

Did you notice the questions Sam thought of each night? 

He wrote them in a journal by his bed and pondered them as he went to sleep each night.

When he wondered about eggs he also wondered how the bird knew how to build a nest. 

Take some time to go outside and watch as spring brings new life. Watch as the birds and insects and other animals prepare homes for new life. 

Create a journal for your observations and questions. Ask for help finding literature about your questions. Add quotes from the literature or Bible verses that support your observations and questions.

Wonder at the wonderful world God has created to for us to enjoy and teach us of His great love. 

What is Life?

photo courtesy of Pixabay

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. ~Psalms 139:14 KJV

A friend of mine posted a picture this week of a swan walking around Lake Junaluska, NC. Its majestic swagger was evident even in a still photo. I wondered if he was looking for a mate or a place to show her for a nest. 

I follow the Wonderfilled Days blog, though I no longer teach or homeschool or even have children at home, I love reading her explorations and connections to children's literature. Part of her email this week was about The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White. She brought to the reader's attention that at the end of most chapters Sam, posed a question, a thought provoking question. 

    "I don't know of anything in the entire world more wonderful to look at than a nest with eggs in it. An egg because it contains life is the most perfect thing there is. It is beautiful and mysterious. An egg is a finer thing than a tennis ball or a cake of soap. A tennis ball will always be just a tennis ball. A cake of soap will always be just a cake of soap until it gets so small nobody wants it and they throw it away, an egg will someday be a living creature."

~The Trumpet of the Swan

We value so many things, our grandmother's china cabinet, or our dad's '67 Mustang. We value the homerun baseball signed by our favorite player and the concert tickets from that special night but how valuable is a life? Tennis balls, fragrant soap, china, cars, signed balls, and tickets are just stuff, even those with memories attached are still just stuff but an egg, any egg is life itself. It will grow and transform into that beautiful cygnet, a bluebird, a salamander, or a platypus. Watching a mother robin tend her nest and seeing the newly hatched chicks is one of my favorite childhood memories. But these are not the only eggs that contain life. 

We may not be able to see the horse's egg or our dog's egg, or even a goat's egg but they all originate as an egg. Neither can we see the human egg inside the mother's womb but it is there growing with God forming the little person's every detail. He creates each human with love and a purpose. Whether there is only one child or twenty, whether the child is born into a family or adopted a child is still created with purpose and loved by God. 

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. ~Psalms 128:3-5

So much is happening to destroy the lives of our children physically, mentally, and spiritually. The swan builds a nest six feet wide to lay her eggs and protect her cygnets. The cob (male swan) swims close by guarding her and the young. Like swans, we need strong homes with watchful fathers and mothers who "fuss" over our families.  I pray we watch carefully over our children from conception to their flight from our nests. 

Father, give us a new heart for children and families. Help us guard them against Satan's entanglements and create a home where the wonders of the Lord and His salvation are shared daily. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Hey Kids: 

Have you read The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White? Perhaps you have had it read to you. 

Did you notice the questions Sam thought of each night? 

He wrote them in a journal by his bed and pondered them as he went to sleep each night.

When he wondered about eggs he also wondered how the bird knew how to build a nest. 

Take some time to go outside and watch as spring brings new life. Watch as the birds and insects and other animals prepare homes for new life. 

Create a journal for your observations and questions. Ask for help finding literature about your questions. Add quotes from the literature or Bible verses that support your observations and questions.

Wonder at the wonderful world God has created to for us to enjoy and teach us of His great love.