Richard came home from work last night and said that he thought we should do the Easter egg lesson for Family Home Evening. I had worried that the 15-year-old tradition was too juvenile so we didn’t do it for Easter this year. I am glad we went back and fixed that.
Our Easter lesson isn’t unique. I am sure it’s a popular idea. It is a collection of 12 plastic Easter eggs which I have numbered, each holding a scripture reference and small object related to Christ’s sufferings, death, and resurrection. The final egg is empty to represent the tomb. Inside the eggs are just simple things, such as a tiny cup, a length of rope, a nail, different fabrics, a sponge, a stone, a small angel, etc. Each year we take turns opening these eggs and talk about these objects and the events of Jesus’ last days. Some years we open one egg each day leading up to Easter. Other years, we have opened them all at once. The conversation has matured as the kids have grown. I think the scriptures are the key to inviting the Spirit, and we don’t read long passages. The objects are the key to keeping the younger children’s attention, but handling them does something powerful for adults. Richard was right. We shouldn’t give up this tradition, and as he taught in FHE, we should celebrate Easter all the time.
We sang, “Jesus Has Risen” from the Primary songbook about an octave and a half lower than the music is written. As the deep voices of the boys filled the room, I smiled. It wasn’t long ago that we were singing that song straight from the book, their sweet voices melting my heart. Do you want to hear what they sounded like 7 years ago? Go here. The suits! The little boys! The pale pink Easter dress! I’m dying.
This morning I packed away the lesson in our Easter decorations box, ready to be used in 2017. I may expand the lesson next year, but if I don’t, I won’t use it as an excuse not to do it. Simple traditions are sometimes the best.