A few years ago, I watched as my children eagerly added another felt figure to our Advent nativity scene and I reveled in the joy that anticipation alone could bring. In contrast, a few short months later, Easter seemed to come and go as a mere blip on the calendar, and I found myself saying, “There has got to be a way we can anticipate Easter as much as we look forward to Christmas.”
Thus the idea for this project was born.
On Ash Wednesday, we begin our journey towards Easter by hanging a simple painting of a tree on our wall, and adding one small glass magnet to its branches. That day, we also read the first short story from this book. Throughout the forty days of Lent, the tree slowly begins to fill with depth and color as we add magnets with each devotional.
The short readings (beginning on Ash Wednesday) take us on a journey through the story of how God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and during the second half, parallels with the story of how Jesus frees each of us from slavery to sin. Throughout it all, we follow the thread of God's quest to reveal the depth of God's never-ending love for all people - how love has been written into our story since the beginning.
Easter for our family now includes a sunrise campfire and resurrection buns on the same day we place the last magnet on the now rich and colorful tree: a bright yellow flowering flare signifying life and freedom and wholeness. And I smile, because sometimes I think we anticipate Easter even more than Christmas.
If you're interested in purchasing the book and materials for yourself, visit the online store at www.everydaycelebrated.bigcartel.com
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