This year was Noal's first Easter. Firsts are always exciting with kids, but this one really put some things into perspective for me. Noal is definitely the second child, with Trace every minor holiday was a huge ordeal that was planned and orchestrated months in advance. This year I went out and got their Easter baskets two days before Easter. All in all, I think it is just now I understand that Noal isn't really affected by the Easter bunny and his Easter basket which contained:
1.) Food he would have gotten without the holiday.
2.) Toys that will wind up being played with by Trace.
3.) Clothes, I'm sure he's thrilled!
I did feel guilty about the fact that Noal hasn't gotten the attention to detail that Trace got. I thought more and more about this and began to question my parenting, but then I began to realize that Easter isn't ever about what is in the boys Easter baskets at all.
Noal's Easter Basket:
Jesus gave us all a gift that the Easter Bunny can never match... so I began to wonder why we do such trivial things that take away from the true meaning of the holiday. Now please, don't get me wrong, I love holiday and family traditions as much as the next person, but it was just a great eye opener for me on the way I want to raise my boys. When my boys hear the word Easter, I don't want their thoughts to go to candy, eggs, bunnies, or baskets. I want their first thought to be that because of Easter Sunday, when Christ rose from the dead, they will have eternal salvation. A gift that the Easter Bunny is just never going to be able to compete with.
We did have a wonderful Easter Sunday at church with yet another great sermon by Pastor Jeff. The sermon really touched my heart because I have really been struggling with Chad's new schedule and adjusting to the new crazy life of two boys that are currently two and under. Sometimes it is so easy to get consumed by all the things that are stressful or upsetting in life and forget about just how blessed I am:
- I have an amazing husband that I know God created just for me.
- God has blessed us with two beautiful, healthy baby boys.
- I have a warm bed at night and food on my table.
- I have a job that I love with a great boss who understands that family comes first.
- I have wonderful family and friends that, even though I don't get to see as much as I would like, would be there for me in a heartbeat if I needed them.
- I am pretty sure I could have a list that went on and on but those are the most important!
Easter was a success, even though I may have not been as planned and on top of it as I would have liked. God was able to be the center of our Easter Sunday because of that and for that I am glad.
"The joyful news that He is risen does not change the contemporary world. Still before us lie work, discipline, sacrifice. But the fact of Easter gives us the spiritual power to do the work, accept the discipline, and make the sacrifice."
-- Henry Knox Sherrill
-- Henry Knox Sherrill
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