I'm having difficulty explaining the origin of Easter to my kids. The Easter story is rather morbid and fantastic and I don't know how to approach it with my three-, six- and nine-year-old. At Sunday school they learn just enough to get them asking the tough questions when they get home. Any ideas?
Explain the death and rebirth of Christ simply, honestly, as you believe it. Don't worry about your children not grasping a full understanding of the Easter story; in time they will.A CONVERSATION STARTER
Here's a sample question and answer session:CHILD: My Sunday school teacher said that Jesus died on Good Friday and rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. What does she mean? He just got up and walked out of the grave?
PARENT: Yes, that's what we Christians believe. He didn't go back to being a carpenter when he rose from the dead, he went to heaven to be with God. Because Jesus died and went to heaven, we will go to heaven to be with Jesus and God when we die.
CHILD: That can't happen. When you die, you die forever.
PARENT: I compare it to a seed like the cosmos flowers in our garden. In the summer the cosmos blooms beautifully, then the plant dies and drops seeds. It seems the plant is dead forever, but in the spring the cosmos seeds grow into new plants. It's a miracle. The rebirth of Christ is a miracle, too.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Don't make your answers too complicated and don't expect your children to catch on immediately. If they ask question after question, keep answering, but don't worry that they're obsessed with death or the crucifixion; it's just the child's way of coming to terms with a difficult subject.You can always toss the question back to the child, "How do you think it happened?" Children often have their own unique way of explaining difficult concepts. In time your children will take on your beliefs.
CONSULT THE GOOD BOOK
Pastor Jim Rismiller of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Renton, Washington, recommends reading the Bible verse, John 3:16, to your children. That verse, which begins "God so loved the world..." explains the Easter story best.If you're still groping with the topic, talk to your pastor or priest. He or she has lots of experience explaining the subject to children, coupled with a deeper understanding of the Easter story. He or she can also explain it to you and your children in terms suited for your denomination.
