“What are Easter eggs?”

Easter egg hunts are a highlight of the holiday for most kids. But how  many of us know the meaning behind such a fun event? Lori Walburg, author of The Legend of the Candy Cane, shares the true meaning of Easter with us in this lovely story, The Legend of the Easter Egg.

Introducing Our Featured Friend: The Legend of the Easter Egg
by Lori Walburg, Illustrated by James Bernardin

One April morning, Thomas and his older sister Lucy went outside to collect eggs from their hen. Lucy pretended they were hunting for Easter eggs, when Thomas asked, “What are Easter eggs?”.

He was left to discover that answer on his own as his sister became ill with scarlet fever and he went to stay with his neighbors, John and Mary Sonneman. Thomas helped them in their candy store, and worried about his sister the entire time.

On Good Friday, the minister taught the story of Jesus’ death and burial. As Thomas held a chocolate egg in his hand, he noticed the shape was similar to the stone covering Jesus’ tomb. That night, he asked Mary, “Why do we have Easter eggs?” She explained,

“Just as a chick breaks out of an egg, so had Jesus broken free of the tomb of death. Easter eggs remind us that Jesus conquered death and gives us eternal life.”

 All day Saturday, Thomas colored eggs and thought of Lucy and the story of the Easter egg.  “And for the first time in his life, he prayed. All by himself.”

Easter morning, everything looked new. He returned home and his sister was well! He told Lucy about his faith and new life! The colored Easter eggs in his basket reminded them of the most wonderful truths of Easter: Jesus is alive and “the love they shared would never, ever, end.”

Inviting You To Become FRIENDS with The Legend of the Easter Egg:
Select from the questions and activities below . . .

Feel, Relate, Imagine, Explore, Navigate, Develop, Share

F- How do you feel when someone you love gets sick?

R- Can you relate to Thomas when he doesn’t know the meaning of Easter eggs? What part of the Easter story do you want to know more about?

I- Imagine that you can find a special treasure in one of the Easter eggs. What would you want to discover in your Easter egg hunt?

E- Explore more about the Easter holiday: Why do we celebrate Good Friday? What do the bread and wine represent? What is a Passover lamb? Why do people dye eggs?

N- Navigate your way through the events leading up to Easter. Create a timeline including events such as Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday. The Resurrection Eggs are a perfect, eggciting tool to use with your kids:
http://shop.familylife.com/p-3504-resurrection-eggs.aspx

D- Develop a fun Easter egg craft by cutting out paper eggs to paint:
https://kidsbookfriends.com/2014/04/11/an-egg-citing-easter-event/

S- Share the meaning of Easter with a someone this week:
http://www.teenmissions.org/resources/wordless-book-bracelet/

How will you celebrate Easter this year?

The Legend of the Candy Cane Illustrations:

“One April morning when the air was soft and sweet, a boy and his sister went outside to gather eggs.”

“Was this heaven? Because all around him was candy.”

“He remembered the story of the Easter egg. And for the first time in his life, he prayed. All by himself.”

“When he got home, Thomas bounded up the stairs to Lucy’s room. Finally, he would see her.”

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