Hooray for Easter!! What a great time to focus on the Son, his sacrifice, and the joy of the resurrection. Tonight, during our family devotional time, we started to read the Easter story with the kids, but they stopped us and both said they are reading it every day and discussing it at school. Hudson said, "I think this is the most popular story this week." Hannah then interjected how sad the story is, and she really doesn't like to hear all about Jesus dying because it is too sad. She has always felt this way.
I will never forget the first time Hannah, age 3, heard the story. Her Memaw had given her a movie called "Little Lamb" and it was the story of the Crucifixion told through the eyes of children and their little lamb. Hannah intensely watched the whole thing. When it got to the part where Jesus was crucified, she verbally gasped and threw her head down on the couch. However, a few minutes later, as she continued to watch, they portrayed the resurrection......she began shouting and laughing and dancing around, she was so happy. She watched that movie over and over again. Eventually Hannah began running out of the room during the crucifixion, then coming in and dancing at the resurrection.
Tonight, during our family time, we opted for an old favorite.....Daddy's Song, a 20 minute allegorical story wrapped around a simple song by Dennis Jernigan. It was a beautiful parallel to the Easter story, and tonight we introduced it to our children (Tom, wish you were here with us). It is the song/story of a Father's love for his son. The song portrays the beautiful story of love and redemption and how the Father made the ultimate sacrifice for his son. We listened (Rob and I wiped tears from our eyes) together, than were able to observe our kids draw the beautiful parallels of our own lives to that of the son.
I couldn't help but agree with Hannah. How sad it is that death had to occur. Knowing my own faults and shortcomings, I can't help but identify with the son in Daddy's song, who finds himself tangled in his own sin. I think too often it is easy to skip over the death and focus on the resurrection, which is the best part. However, as Hannah reminded me again tonight, the reality of the crucifixion is sad. Good thing the weekend is almost here.....there will be dancing.
5 comments:
GLORY!!!
I love that song/story! Gives me chills just reading about it.
Neat story. Yes, death is sad. But without His death, there would have been no resurrection story..and no hope of ours!! Aren't we glad! So glad the children are grasping this while they are so young.
I'm with Hannah - this is the most difficult part of J's story and yet the most exciting!
I physically cringe to think of the crucifixion but am so grateful for "the rest of the story"!!!
Thanks, Rob, for the great daily devo's this week.
Introduced it to your children? I'm pretty sure I heard Rob introduce it to Hannah the night she was born. What was that, like a decade ago?
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