Easter for a tiny two

I have had so much on my heart that I want to share as God works to change it. This last year has been an adventure for me taking me far away from my comfort zone, shredding my ideas about myself and giving me a faith so different I would call it new. Everything I share will come from a place of love- for Jesus and for others. Friends I know and friends I haven't met yet. Christian or not, republican or democrat, someone I have always loved or someone I have come across as hypocritical to in the past. I want a chance to share the work that is going on in my heart and the love that Jesus has shared with me.

As we come into the week of Easter I have tried to be intentional when I talk to Adalynn, my two and a half year old. I grew up with a new Easter dress every year from my mom (until I was literally 25, thanks mom!), egg hunts and baskets of goodies. My husband Nick grew up following a chocolate bunny trail to his basket of treats. His mom and dad still throw the best Easter party around! Addy and Charlie (my sweet 5 month old) will do an egg hunt too, but I try not to talk about the Easter bunny. Somehow Addy still picks it up and asks questions that I gladly answer but I really want, even at this age, for her to know what this Holy time is truly about.

Tonight on the way home from the gym Addy was asking about the Easter bunny and if he has a phone (um... probably an iPhone 5, duh) and I asked her "Addy, can we talk about Jesus?" I told her about how tonight he would have been praying in the garden. (Matt 26:36-56) We talked about how Jesus died which is pretty heavy to try to give to a two year old and the great news that on Sunday morning his tomb was empty and he was alive again. She asked me "Why him died?"  I told her how the scripture was proved true by the way he died. She told me "Someday I will go to Heaven and Jesus will be there and God too but that will be bad because God killed him". We clearly still have some work to do. The nice thing is that Christ's story doesn't have to be seasonal. I have a lot of time to answer questions.

The Easter bunny is fun, easy and who doesn't love a little magic and some chocolate but I want so much more than that for my kids. Jesus is harder to talk about and messy and not really what I would always consider an "age appropriate story". Addy and Charlie have the whole world to teach them about a bunny and getting candy but it is only my job to teach them about Jesus. And just saying that weighs heavily on my heart because what a monumental task The Lord has trusted me with placing these two sweet souls in my keeping.