We are in the midst of uncertain times. The news is like nothing I have ever experienced and each day it feels as if we are living in a movie. People are suffering all over the world, friends are being laid off, parents are working from home and making sure their children don't fall behind in their virtual learning (when they aren't used to either), we are worried about elderly and immunocompromised family, and everyone is hoping and praying that they don't fall ill.
It seems like, in the midst of all of this horror, that THE LAST thing we should be thinking about is Easter baskets, joviality, and fun, but when it comes to our children, that is exactly what we NEED to be thinking about. How can me make our children feel safe, loved, and normal when everything around them is spinning out of control? While we are hoping and worrying and praying, kids are just trying to be kids. Don't ever forget that the littlest ears hear everything, that the littlest hearts feel everything, and that the littlest minds are still being shaped. They are internalizing ALL of this and it is becoming part of who they are. We don't want this global tragedy to shape our children with trauma, we want to shape our children so that they can overcome trauma, and rise up to be a generation of problem solvers, of world shakers, of kind, strong, resilient, beautiful people.
Children need routine, they need normalcy, they need not be burdened by their parents worries. So go ahead, get out those silly plastic eggs, spread that easter grass and enjoy the season. Order candy on amazon, bake cupcakes, do what you need to do to have an Easter morning (even if we can't go to church). Make sure the Easter Bunny shows up, make sure you count your blessings (then count them twice), enjoy each second of the day, and always keep your face toward the sun.
We can build a generation of strong leaders, resilient warriors, and kind souls, so that out of this tragedy comes a new and better world. We just need to remember, that children NEED to be children, even in the midst of a global pandemic and they need us to be the best we can be for them. To put aside our anxieties and focus on thier needs. We should never forget that joy feeds the soul just as food nourishes the body.
I wasn't positive that I was going to decorate for Easter but once I started, I was certain it was the right decision. That glittery gold sign and those sparkly plastic eggs are just what we all need right now. They are a promise that one day, we will get back to normal.That staying home and social distancing for as long as it takes is worth it to get back to a place where we can once again celebrate in church, on the streets, and with our friends.
