Go big or go home!
Going big to celebrate special holidays and occasions, tossed with the memories they create, bring me joy. So, I’m enthusiastic about reindeer, flags, turkeys, balloons, party hats, fireworks, hearts, costumes—all of it really.
Especially, all things Easter: bunnies, bright-colored eggs, baskets, and assorted candy. And every year I go big to celebrate. Here’s how.
Go Big with Baskets
My family blessings include an adult son and daughter, a son-in-law, and a one-year-old grandson. But throw in the mix two small fur-babies—family dogs. We call them our little kids.
I love to fill baskets for the big kids, little kid, and fury kids. And each basket holds glorious items.
The 4-legged furry kids enjoy a treat and toy. Still, even though the aforementioned big kids grew into adults, their baskets spill over with various sweet delights—catered to personal taste—and a fun game or toy (for ages 12 and up). A competition often ensues of paddle ball, parachute men, bubble guns or magnetic yo-yo.
So, if you’re one of my kids, an Easter basket displays your name. There’s no boundaries or limitations: not age, gender, or bloodline. Both my son and son-in-law meet the same eligibility requirements.
Last year, my grandson was only a few months old. But I wanted him to receive something unique. I saved his mom’s first Easter gift. A blue stuffed rabbit holding a carrot. Yet the rabbit’s in impeccable shape. It’s not torn or tattered. Only a few dirt spots marked his fur and they wiped clean.
And the family rite of a bunny passed down twenty-seven years later, from mommy to baby, warms my heart. It’s not the blue rabbit per se. But that mom’s first Easter gift became his first Easter gift.
Maybe our family will start a new tradition. Give blue bunny to your kid, who will give it to his kid, who will pass it on to her child, and so on. I wonder how many generations and decades bunny will last?
Every Easter Sunday, we worship in church together with my husband preaching the Word. Then we go home (to our house) for lunch with all the fixings. And the see-what’s-in-your-basket fun begins. We take boatloads of pictures, making new memories.
Go Big: Rise from the Ashes
In order to fully celebrate all things Easter, there’s another way we must go big. It has nothing to do with Peter Cottontail hopping down the bunny trail. But everything to do with a family rite passed down through the decades by our spiritual ancestors.
You see, since the first Easter morning, the church and Christians celebrate the risen Lord. The resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.
“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day…” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NLT.
Christ: sentenced as an innocent man; crucified at the hands of influential men; raised to life by the powerful Spirit of God.
The tomb is empty! God went big the first Easter.
[bctt tweet=”Jesus came to earth with “go big” plans from the heavenly Father. #blog” username=”inspireafire”]
Plans to live among the people, teach them God’s truths, love unconditionally, heal them physically and spiritually, and—here’s the best go big part—die for the sins of all mankind.
And Christ died in our place as the sacrificial Lamb, providing a way to heaven and abundant life. The impeccable Lamb without blemish, torn and tattered for you and for me. The dirt spots we bear are wiped clean by Calvary’s cross.
The first Easter gift can be our Easter gift. Eternal life purchased for us. God wants each of us to be one of His kids. There’s no boundaries or limitations: not age, gender, or bloodline.
We entered the bloodline of Jesus on the cross. Now, we all meet the same eligibility requirements because Jesus loves us.
The cross and empty tomb paint a picture of rising from the ashes. And it gives us the same power to rise from the ashes.
The Savior went big for me and you!
Featured image and cross image courtesy of Adobe Spark.
