Beyond the Easter Bunny for a Military Child

Military children grow-up with many uncertainties with disrupted holidays. The military doesn’t come to a halt because of these celebrations. Orders, moves, deployments, alerts, and exercises are still carried out to protect our country. So how can we protect the hearts of our kids during Easter?

My parents protected my heart by establishing family traditions. It didn’t matter where our family was stationed or my father’s absence; I looked forward to the consistency of traditions. They became an anchor of my childhood. These anchors are important when our children become adults and give up their military IDs. The loss of access to “military base hometowns” can be a loss of their childhood. I am grateful that my parents started and spent time building and maintaining traditions that carried my childhood into adulthood. You can do the same for your military child.

“… hold to the traditions that you were taught by us…” 2 Thess 2:15

Challenge Mission: Start a new tradition this year
Listed below are some of my Easter family traditions

*Easter bunny tracks through your house.

“Look at the mess the Easter Bunny made in my house.”

Two cotton balls dipped in baking soda, cornstarch, and powder make great rabbit tracks; drop jellybeans and grass by his footprints.

Don’t forget to leave a carrot out for him the night before.

*Easter baskets and candied filled plastic eggs

Hide them inside your home. You never know the weather condition at your next assignment.

*Dye Easter eggs as a family

Dye them yellow and put emoji faces on them. Talk about feelings with your child.

Beyond the Bunny

*Jelly Bean Prayer

Black: For our sin, the wrong things we have done.

Red:   Is for Jesus’ blood; He shed for everyone.

White: Is for a clean heart; when we believe in Jesus.

Gold:   Is for the streets in heaven, promised when Jesus we receive.

Green: Is for growing and hiding God’s word in your heart.

*Resurrection Buns

A recipe with a deep theological meaning

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

1 10 oz. can Crescent dinner rolls

8 large Marshmallows

2 Tbsp. Ground Cinnamon

2 Tbsp. Sugar

¼ Cup melted Butter

1. Separate the dinner rolls into triangles.
2. Mix Cinnamon and Sugar together in a small bowl.
3. Dip the marshmallows in the butter and roll them around in the cinnamon and sugar.
4. Place the marshmallow in the dough triangle and fold the dough around the marshmallow sealing the edges by pinching the dough together.
5. Bake on a cookie sheet for 15mins
   After the buns bake, the marshmallow melts and disappears. Representing Jesus’ resurrection after three days in the tomb.

*Attend Easter Services at church or a Passion Play