Beech Tree News Network

On Easter Sunday, my family and I will attend church services and then gather for lunch. Easter is an important day for Christians even though people celebrate Jesus’s resurrection in a variety of ways.

Most of us have memories that are associated with this holiday. I asked friends and family about their favorite memories from Easters in the past. Their responses are listed below:
•    I would have to say my favorites now are the Easters spent with Mother: going to church and then spending the day together after a nice lunch watching the kiddos find the eggs in the yard – time and time again.
•    Getting new patent leather shoes and little hats with flowers to wear to church.
•    As a kid, my mom used to place Easter eggs while we were sleeping. The eggs would lead us to our Easter basket. Then we would go to church to celebrate and return for family time.
•    Easter egg hunts and lunch at my mamaw’s.
•    Well, I guess hunting eggs with my cousins and eating those big Easter dinners that my grandmother used to make.
•    From childhood: running through meadows of flowers on horseback, white dogwood and redbud tree blossoms, Easter clothes with light cotton fabric, egg hunts with treats and laughter in spring sunshine.  From adulthood: spring greenery, the smell of cut grass mixed with the earthy scent of freshly turned garden soil, the feel of a breeze on skin in warm daylight, and the taste of potato salad on a picnic.
•    Easter…most of the time, I got Easter clothes. But, I do not have a favorite memory because I was always sent to church. My parents did not go. We never had an Easter egg hunt at home, perhaps at church.
•    Easter has always been a favorite holiday for me. As a Christian, I love the celebration it is. I remember sunrise service as a little girl and as I got older the songs about the resurrection of our Lord. I love springtime and the new life that springs up in flowers and trees. These remind me of the promise of a new life that His resurrection brought us. I don’t have a specific memory that stands out, but when I think of Easter memories, I think of church.
•    Waking up to baskets full of candy and a new dress every year, even when my parents had very little money, and now I love to watch my daughter wake up to her Easter bunny surprises and get excited when she hunts eggs. I also love the memories of my father hanging plastic eggs in the tree for my young nephews. Easter has also been special because of family traditions and for what it means as a Christian.
•    My favorite memories are when my kids were little and the night before Easter, they would put out their baskets for the Easter Bunny to fill. They would say, “When we put them out, they are empty, and when we wake up, they are full!” And, the year my daughter got old enough to tell me she wasn’t wearing an Easter hat. She said you can buy it, but I am not wearing it. It’s hard sometimes for mommas to realize their children do outgrow things.
•    Hunting eggs every year when I was little.
•    Sunrise services, cooking outside on the fire, and after-church Easter egg hunts.
•    I have always loved getting up on Easter Sunday morning and going to sunrise service.
•    My favorite memories of Easter are attending sunrise service, listening to my Daddy preach, and hiding and hunting Easter eggs.

As a child, I remember going to church on Easter and sometimes to my grandmother’s house. I remember my mom trying to keep all six of us clean until she could get us to church. When my daughters were children, we often went to Easter sunrise service as well as to the regular morning worship service, visited my husband’s parents and my parents, and then many times – depending on the church we attended – went back to church in the evening. Those were long days, but good days. Now, my children and grandchildren come to visit me on Easter. And, I am thankful they come.

As we celebrate Easter, let’s remember that “…He is risen!” (Mark 16:6 NIV). Certainly this is worth celebrating. Happy Easter!