Our Holy Week has been interesting this year. Especially with a 3 yr old and trying to teach her about the true reason we celebrate Easter and the fun side of it.
On Monday night when it was bedtime I told her to pick out 2 books. She pulled out one and asked "what is this one about?" I told her it was called "God, Keeps His Promises". It was one I was given as a child from my home church. I told her it was stories about God and Jesus. She told me that she wanted to read about Mary. I questioned her a little more and she said, "I want to read about when Mary went looking for Jesus and he was put in the cave".
I realized she was talking about the Easter story. I asked her to tell me about this story. It went something like this. . . "there were these bad men and they put Jesus on the cross, put nails on his hand, and put things on his head and it hurt him. He died. The soldiers took him and put him in a cave. They wrapped his body and put a big stone in front of the cave. Mary went looking and looking for him but she couldn't find him, he wasn't anywhere. Jesus was alive and now he is in Heaven."
I asked her where she talked about this and she said "at daycare, Ms. Gina told us about Jesus and him dying."
This touched my heart so much that she was so interested in this story and kept asking questions about Jesus and why he died. This has been our topic every night this week at bedtime. We have been reading the story out of my book each night.
Tonight when I was putting her to bed. I asked her what song did she want to sing. She wanted to sing the song about Jesus on the cross. I told her that I didn't know that one. London said that she knew that song and started singing about Jesus dying on the cross. I think part of it was made up, but was precious.
Once again she started telling the story about Jesus dying. I explained about Easter and how that Jesus came back to life and that is what we are celebrating tomorrow at church. Then our conversation went like this . . .
London: "Will we see Jesus tomorrow?"
Me: "No, but because we love Jesus and he is in our hearts when we die we will see him."
(London sat up in bed and was all animated - reaching out to hug stating . . . . )
London: "When I die on a cross, I will see Jesus and he will give me a hug and say - YEAH! London is here!!" (then clapped her hands)
How do you respond to that as a mother - other than having tears in your eyes. At 3 years she is learning, starting to understand, and getting it on a very simple child level.
It has been a while since I have really thought about Easter and all it means. Talking about it each night this week with London and her questions has really opened my eyes and made me look at it in a new light. I am so thankful that she wants to learn more, thankful for a strong Christian husband, family, church, friends and daycare teacher who help guide and teach her about the love of Jesus.
I hope you all have a Blessed Easter tomorrow!
