Easter - A Sad Affair

EASTER! Easter is on its way. YES! Lents almost over and I can go back to snacking to my hearts content - if I wish. I'm not sure I will though. To be honest not snacking has done my the world of good and I might start to structure my food a little more. Like try to just have one snack between meals and make it fruit not a pack of ice gems. It has been so hard this Lent but finally I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, a light shining in all its buscuity, fruity and tasty glory. MmmmmMmmmm... i can't wait. But whilst I sit snacking and munching on foxes creams and Scotland shortbread I must remember the real meaning of Easter and Jesus's tragic and heroic death on the cross. A minister in a church once said that we often like to celebrate to celebrate the happy christian festivals but neglect the negative ones with a more serious tone or dress them up in frills and feathers until they almost loose their meaning or the substance behind that meaning desintegrates. Easter is far too morbid, too serious for the taste buds of many. Jesus hung and bleeding on the cross. It does sound pretty depressing doesn't it. But it's fact not opinion and its important we remember it just like that. Theres no point dressing it up in some fabulous and frivolous affair-we are celebrating a sad moment-and that is it.

Easter eggs, daffodils and baby chicks do serve a purpose though. This feeling of new life and a new leaf taken from Jesus rising does give a good and accurate meaning behind Easter. A chance to take a U-turn in your life and be forgiven for all sins. And teach this teach this, teach this to the children. Tell them of a new-life, a happy day and a chance to be forgiven ... but also teach them why. Why we get this chance...

Teach them the story of Jesus' betrayal, his bravery, his pain. Tell them of Judas's mistake, his greed and betrayal. Teach them of the last supper, the bread the wine. Of Pontius Pilate and the robbers on the cross. Teach them of the grief and sadness. Also teach them of the happy ending, of everyone's second chance. Their second chance. But make sure they know how much was sacrificied to get them this new chance. They will appreciate it more - grasp it with both hands. The story of Easter is just as important of the meaning. Don't dress it up and ice it with a cherry on the top. Let people begin their new life, new start with the truth in their heart.