The kids have been wanting to start our Sense of the Resurrection activities for weeks. And originally, when Lent began, I wanted to start then. But let’s be realistic. My senior quote was, “If it wasn’t for the last minute, we wouldn’t get anything done!”
So, after days of begging, we began our first activity last night. It’s really my very favorite activity and the impetus for the whole book. The Scripture reference is John 12 when Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with the expensive perfume and the “scent of the perfume filled the house.” When Judas declares it a waste Jesus rebukes him and says, “She did this for my burial.”
I imagine that scent lingering for hours and even into the next day. When everyone awoke after the feast at Lazarus’ house and that perfume hit their noses, did Jesus’ words come into their minds? Were they confused? Did they have a sense of foreboding in their hearts?
I feel like that perfume and those words began to prepare their hearts for what was to come. That’s what Sense of the Resurrection is and does–it helps us prepare our hearts to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Now that the kids are 7 and 10, we are doing these activities in a different way. Both kids pulled out their Bibles and we read the passages of Scripture aloud. I never imagined the day I’d be sitting on the floor with my kids, everyone with Bibles open! I sat there looking at their little legs, their little hands holding their Bibles and I remembered those times when they didn’t know how to use a glue stick, or they couldn’t listen to me read 2 verses to them. Now, they are reading the Bible to me!
We changed the activity around–instead of essential oil diffusers, we made sachets with essential oils. It was mainly because we’re in an apartment and don’t have all our little craft supplies everywhere. We had some leftover fabric from Truth in the Tinsel (which just happens to be a nice robin’s egg blue with little white crosses on it!) and some yarn, so I thought baking soda with a few drops of essential oil sachets would be easy.
My son put his in the corner of the bed while my daughter put hers in her clothes drawer. Every time they smell it they are either going to pray, “Thank you for dying for us!” or “Prepare my heart for your burial.”–which seems like a weird prayer but one I genuinely want them to pray with meaning. I want my kids at 7 and 10 to mull over and think about their own connection to Jesus’ burial, to their part in God’s big story!
Mamas of littles, if you’re struggling over why or how to do Bible activities with your toddler or preschooler—THIS is why! When circling around the Bible is part of the tradition of big and exciting holidays, it will continue to be a Thing you do when they are older! When you say, “Look at the moon! Thank you for the moon, God!” and “Did you get a boo-boo? Let’s pray for that right now!” to your little kiddos, it is what they will expect when they are older. Their hearts will turn to thankfulness, to prayer and to God because it’s what they’ve seen their entire lives.
You’ve heard the famous parenting proverb, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” I think the NIV has the heart of the verse correct with this translation, “Start children off on the way they should go…” I’m not suggesting Sense of the Resurrection will make your kid follow the Lord all the days of his life. I’m just encouraging you to go for it–keep God’s Word central to your life and your child’s life!
It’s so easy to do your own Lent devotional, or fast from Facebook or tithe or do a Women’s Bible study on Instagram or while your kids are at Mother’s Morning Out. Don’t leave your child out! Let your children taste and see that the Lord is good from the earliest age! And if your kids are big elementary school kids or eye-rolling middle schoolers, it’s never too late to throw open the Bible and surround your kids with the fragrance of Jesus who, “loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)
Have you begun your Sense of the Resurrection activities? Tell me about ’em!
{If you don’t have a copy of Sense of the Resurrection, grab it now! It’s not too late to start! There are only 12 activities to do before Easter!}
Last year was our first year doing Sense of the Resurrection. My kiddos (ages 5, 8, and 10) were asking when we could start again this year as soon as Lent started too and remembering all their favorite projects and activities from last year. So, to change it up a bit and give them some new experiences this year too, here are a few things I plan to add this year: On Day 3 with after washing feet, my girls and I are going to Serve one another by paining one another’s toe nails and giving foot massages while listening to praise music. On Day 6 with the Rooster, I am going to write the word “Remember” at the top of a sheet of watercolor paper using a white crayon without the kids knowing it. Then, as the kids paint over the paper with watercolor paint and the word will appear and when it dries, we’ll attach the scrapbook paper rooster. On Day 7 with the nails, we are making a washer necklace…(just search for washer necklaces on pinterest for lots of ideas). We are using 2 different size washers and metal letter stamps we got at Harbor Freight to write “Faith” on one washer and “Courage” on the other. Then we’ll hang them on a ribbon with a RED bead which will symbolize the marks where the nails went into Jesus hands. On the day we taste vinegar, we will also color easter eggs. Since adding vinegar to the egg dye makes colors more vibrant, it reminds us that just like adding the awful vinegar helps to transform the eggs into something beautiful, through Jesus’s horrible death on the cross, He transforms us into something beautiful too. (A perfect opportunity to listen to Gungor’s “Beautiful Things” then too!) Thank you so much for Sense of the Resurrection and Truth in the Tinsel! They have become central to our Holiday celebrations! It’s been wonderful to have them serve as the base in our annual readings and traditions but be able to tweak a few of the activities to make it new too! And it’s not just for my kids. These activities have made Easter and Christmas come alive with all new meaning for me too. I just can’t thank you enough!!
I love this!!! The egg dying is PERFECT on the vinegar day!!
a
I love all your extra ideas, especially the rooster activity. I may incorporate a few of your ideas into our days as well : )
What a fun and meaningful idea! =) How old were your kids when you started creating holiday traditions? My son is only 21 months and I keep thinking he is too young for so many things! But, each holiday I am wanting to start faith filled family traditions.. 🙂
Ciara–you know, I was just thinking about this. I found this post on my blog the other day–http://ohamanda.com/2007/03/30/easter/ My now 10yo was only 1. I didn’t do all the things we do now, but age appropriate and designed for her, we did meaningful things! I think it’s never too early–they won’t UNDERSTAND everything but they will understand your love and the importance you place on it. Which is just as important, I think.
a
Hi Amanda! Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! 🙂 And, thanks for the info. There is sooo much to think about. And, oh my… your Easter post has my mind spinning! I had actually never heard of celebrating Spring separately with all the cutesy stuff, in order to let Resurrection Sunday have the main focus. It makes total sense though! I truly thank you for sharing your outlook.. 🙂 I’m hoping you have more holiday tradition ideas on your site!! If so, I will definitely be checking them out!! =)
So I see you are replying over here….I have contacted you twice on your blog and on paypal. The link I received was broken to download. I need a new link. Please respond today with the new link.
I love this, Amanda!! And even though my girl is 16, I think this would be a great way to help her focus on the truth of this season as well.
Hello. I’m trying to order this book (Sense of the Resurrection) and for some reason it’s not working! Can’t seem to get to the cart. Anyone have any suggestions???
Did you get this to work? If not, email amanda at ohamanda.com
a
Oh wait – I just figured it out!! sorry!
We’ve done Truth in the Tinsel the last few years and this year I wanted to do something special for Easter, so I chose A Sense of the Resurrection. We just finished Day 1 and the kids loved it! I love how each day involves one of the 5 senses to make the story come alive in a more personal way. I also love the flag activities. I know there will be a day or two where we will end up using them as well. Thank you for such a great resource and for the special memories we will share over the next 12 days leading up to Easter!
Thank you, Bethany! So glad you guys like it! 🙂
a