how two Easter conversations changed my perspective

Easter 1980 was April 6.

These two little ones were born April 9,1980

narrowly missing a visit from the Easter bunny that year.

Elizabeth Anne was born at 9:42 AM and weighed 5'12 oz.
Sarah Christine was born at 9:44 AM and weighed 7'1 oz.

However, they did get a visit from Santa that year, 

and the Easter Bunny came in 1981

and so on...

This is a picture from the visit Santa made to our house in 1982. Elizabeth and Sarah were having a very hard time staying in their cribs until this guy showed up. They were terrified. The upside is after he left and we put them to bed they didn't get up again until Bill and I went into get them Christmas morning. I did not like that my girls were scared, but I did appreciate being able to finally get their gifts out and under the tree so we could go to bed. 

Easter 1983 was the last year the Easter Bunny came to our house. 

The visits did not stop because our children were afraid. 

They ceased after a conversation Bill and I had with dear friends.

Rick and Jackie have three boys. I think their oldest, Kevin and Bryan are two and three years older than our girls, their youngest, David is about the same age. In 1983 they spent Easter with Rick's family. When our families got together afterward they shared this snippet of the conversation that transpired on their way to Cleveland.

Kevin or Bryan asked;

"Dad, is the Easter Bunny for real?"

(Rick and Jackie had decided that when their children asked, they would tell them the truth.)

I think there was a moment of weighing the answer before Rick replied.

"No."

Imagine a surprised 5/6 year old's face with that answer.

"Well... is Santa Claus real?"

...."Um, no, no he isn't."

Utter shock. 

Temporary silence as that truth registered.

hesitantly the next question was quietly asked...

"is the tooth fairy?"

and equally quietly answered;

"no"

an anguished 

"Is anything for real?" 

followed.

That whole scenario ran over and over and over again in my mind. Bill and I discussed it. Thoroughly. How we assigned the same qualities to Santa and the Easter Bunny and even the Tooth Fairy as we did God. About how we wanted our children to trust us. About how hard it would be to look into their faces when they were teenagers, questioning everything we said anyway, and tell them, "Yes we know what we told you about Santa when you were little. And yes, he was not real, even though we told you he was. But what we taught you about God, well all of that is true. Forget what we said about Santa and the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. But hold onto every word we taught you about God. Trust us." And we couldn't do it. For us, the visits had to stop. 

Christmas Eve we still hung empty stockings and they went to bed with a tree void of gifts and woke Christmas morning with full stockings and three gifts apiece under the tree representing the gifts the Wise men brought Jesus.

Easter morning there were baskets to find before church and eggs to hunt afterward. The baskets held gifts to help them grow in their faith, often Focus on the Family's Adventures in Odyssey Radio Adventures, a new Bible or Christian music and some of their favorite candy. 

If there were new outfits, they were usually home made. 

I knew I had a picture of these kiddos in these outfits,
it is one of my favorite photos. Circa 1990.
What I didn't remember was that I matched too-
nor just how much too big I had made Beth and Sarah's dresses.
Sorry kids. I thought it was cool at the time.

When they were old enough to begin loosing teeth we made them a deal- 

they could exchange their lost tooth for a quarter. I think we upped it to a dollar for "big teeth", but most often it was simply a quarter.

Fast forward to Easter 4 or 5 years after that photo was taken. Andrew would be about the age Kevin and Bryan were when "the conversation" happened. Andrew has always been my one child who questions and debates anything and everything because he thinks debating is fun. I on the other hand, do not.

It was time to hunt the eggs. 

He stopped, looked up at me and asked; 

"Mommy, why do we hunt for eggs at Easter?" 

My immediate thought was "Because it is fun!" 

But God graciously put a guard over my mouth. 

I looked down at his sweet little face and said;

 "Andrew, why do you think we look for eggs?"

He stood there in front of me for a few minutes, 

head lowered, brows drawn together in deep thought.

Then he looked up, into my eyes, excitement shining out of his, and replied;

"I think it is because the disciples looked for Jesus' body."

I was momentarily speechless. 

Where did this boy of ours come up with this stuff?

I certainly hadn't told him anything like that.

When I recovered enough to answer him I said;

"Andrew, that is a great reason to hunt Easter Eggs."

The first Easter conversation, 

the one our friends shared with us, 

changed how we celebrated the holidays with our children.

It made us question and evaluate the things we taught them.

This second Easter conversation,

the one I shared with my five year old son,

humbled me,

and reminded just how much a child has to teach us if we will but listen.

"Why do we hunt for eggs?"

To remind us that Jesus' body is no longer in the tomb.

Death could not hold Him.

Easter is about the Risen Lamb of God.