Years ago we bought a set of “Resurrection Eggs,” twelve plastic eggs filled with small symbols representing moments in the Easter story, including a donkey for Palm Sunday, a tiny metal wine goblet and plastic bread for the Last Supper, and a rock for the stone rolled in front of the tomb. The kids would take turns opening an egg each night at dinner and we would read the correlating story from one of the Gospels. The last egg (empty) is opened on Easter Sunday.But twelve eggs didn’t seem like enough.
So we added to the collection, filling additional eggs in order to drag the story out. We agreed the unnamed lady from Mark 14:3-9 who anointed Jesus with perfume needed to be in the story after reading “wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” So we found a tiny Playmobil pitcher to represent the alabaster jar.
We also added a small brown sandal to remind us of the time Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. A little wooden bench and fake money (also Playmobil) is for the moment when He turned over the money changers’ tables and drove them out of the temple. A small coin is for the widow’s mite or the time Jesus was challenged about paying taxes to Caesar (two stories in one!).
This set of eggs serves as a simple story-prompting tool during Lent. We are reading, thinking and praying together as we walk closer and closer to Good Friday and Easter Sunday; we’re slowing down by gathering around the table to read through those moments recorded in Scripture…moments that changed everything.
How do you slow? How do you fast? Write it up and link, or tell us in the comments.
I enjoy hearing about the way your family participates in sharing the stories from the Gospels, and the resurrection eggs are a novel and wonderful idea. Ann, you are such an excellent teacher and example for your family. Keep up the good work! These are memories that they will cherish for many years to come. I do hope they take with them the tradition as they begin their own families. (Sooner than you can imagain.) Today we looked at some photos of our Grandchildren a few years ago, and now some of them are grown and others are teenagers ! WOW how time flies.
Ann,
I’m finding these slow-down moments in friendship again. This blessing from the Lord has infused my Lenten days. May this gift continue long after Easter! I’ll be dropping a link a little later.
Blessings,
Janis
Oh, my goodness, I think my playdates post might definitely go here. It is about listening…and slowing. Hmmm. I’ll be back, but first I want to say, we have two sets of those resurrection eggs. The boys made them when I was the Director of Children’s Ministries at our church. We had so much fun making them with the other kids. When we couldn’t find just the right item to put in the egg, we made a shrinky-dink of it. Do you remember those? They were these plastic sheets that you drew on and colored and then baked in the oven and the shrunk to this cute little compact plastic object. I loved the shrinky-dink donkey the best. *sigh* I think I need to get those eggs out and maybe add your little suggestions.
How time does fly.
I can’t find the code for your button thingy. But I linked you with words (imagine!) over at the Wellspring.
I love these additions you have made. And you are right, twelve is just not enough. Great idea!
Hello Miss Ann,
I haven’t been here in awhile. Actually, I haven’t been a lot of places for the last month.
How do I slow down? By hugging my son and burying my nose in his hair and knowing that soon he will be taller than me. How else? By picking up a pencil and paper. Writing the old fashioned way slows me down and helps me remember the real me and not always who I think I should be. In fact, that is the point of my new blog… simple.
(Thank you for your prayers and encouragement during this healing time.)
Blessings.
By the way, it’s me, Darlene, aka A Simple Country Girl. Scared ya with my real image rather than my horse head profile shot, aye?
😉