Holidays and Holy Days are a wonderful opportunity to make memories, strengthen family bonds, and teach children about God’s love for us. I have fond remembrances from my own childhood of dressing up for church and then heading over to Grandma’s house for a fancy dinner, followed by an egg hunt with our cousins in the back yard.
We enjoy taking time off from our everyday routine for special activities that prepare our hearts to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. Each year we repeat family traditions from our past and look for new ways to celebrate. Often those new ideas become our future traditions!
Here are some ideas to try in your home:
1. Read aloud from a daily devotional that explains the mysteries of God’s plan for Christ’s death and resurrection. An excellent family devotion that is available for download is Jesus, the Life Giver by Katherine A. Loop.
2. Use a felt board, dolls or small figures to make a diorama scene for each day during the week, or have children dress up and act out the following events.
Palm Sunday
Jesus clearing the temple
The Last Supper
Jesus and disciples in the garden of Gethsemane
Jesus’ arrest and trial
His crucifixion
His glorious resurrection
3. Have children draw one of the above scenes each day and copy a portion of scripture that describes the events.
4. Make and decorate cookies in shapes that symbolize new life: egg, butterfly, and cross.
5. Use a white crayon to write names of Jesus (Redeemer, Savior, Lamb of God, Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords, Son of God, The Word, Name above all Names) on hardboiled eggs. Let your children discover the names as they dip the eggs into different colors of dye.
6. Watch videos that describe the first Passover and deliverance of the Israelites (Prince of Egypt, The Ten Commandments) and/or depict the time of Christ (Ben Hur).
7. Search on-line for artwork illustrating the events of the passion.
8. Learn about the geography and culture of the Holy Land. Compare maps from the time of Christ to today.
9. Have each family member write a list of their personal sins that Jesus paid the price for with His sinless death. Fold the lists and lay them at the foot of a cross. Thank God for sending His son to die on our behalf and give us eternal life.
10. Give each child a new bible, devotional book or journal to help them grow spiritually throughout the year.
May you gain a deeper understanding of the depth and width and breadth of God’s love for you, as demonstrated in His ultimate sacrifice.