Saturday, April 15, 2006 - The Crown
In thinking of activities to do with my children in celebration of Easter, I came across an interesting idea on the FIAR message boards for making crowns out of salt dough with toothpick "thorns". The idea is that the children get to pluck out a thorn each time they do something kind thus relieving His pain a bit.
I though that if I were a child I would read that as saying that anytime I did something bad Jesus would have to suffer all over again. Not wanting to pay for therapy bills in years to come, I took this "logic" to my dh who thought I was once again "overthinking" it (something I seem to be very good at 
) so we decided to do it.
Having already experinced making salt dough with my children
, we decided to go with play doh this time. We also used finishing nails in place of the toothpicks which gave it a nice look. As we put it together, I explained the idea behind it and told them that when all the thorns were removed we would get to do something fun with it. (On Sunday morning we will place flowers in the holes left by the thorns while our resurrection rolls bake.)
At lunchtime we had a family communion sitting in a circle in the kitchen floor, passing around sliced bread and a bottle of grape juice. It was so beautiful. To close, I lead us in prayer. Nicole asked me why I sounded so sad and why was I crying? That opened the door to talk to them about the TRUE meaning of Easter. I really think that in a small way, the older 3 kinda "got it"!
That afternoon, my children were falling all over themselves doing good deeds to earn a chance to pluck a thorn, so much so that I added a few back to it when they weren't looking to keep the "game" going 
! Early in the evening, the kindness kick wore off and my angels fell back to Earth to resume thier roles as childen. My peaceful evening took an ugly turn via a shouting match over the remote between James and Elizabeth (8y.o. boy vs 2y.o. girl). I told James that he needed to learn to be more patient with his little sister to which he responed with tears in his eyes," Does this mean I have to put a thorn back in Jesus' crown?", then he burst into tears...
My ugly suspicion confirmed
I hugged him and explained that Christ died once for all, and that while we shouldn't do bad things, He doesn't ever have to go back to the pain of that day again.
I knew I shoulda' listened to my gut on this one...
Once again, the mommy of the year award slips from my reach.
Today, plucking thorns is a little less exciting to them and I'm not pushing it. There are 6 thorns left in the crown and I'm certain they will be gone by morning.
I am so looking forward to a TRUE Easter this year.
We have said our final fairwells to the Easter Bunny and his baskets, in fact we have a rabbit in the freezer that the cynic in me is thinking of roasting for dinner...
but then I think of the therapy bills again...
I pray that you all have a blessed Easter!
Comments
Sunday, April 16, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by flapjacks
Hiya, 'Mom of the Year'/Unpaid Therapist! ;-)
Thanks for adding me to your friends! I'm glad you like the colour of my blog (yes, I'm English in case my spelling was making you wonder!) - that yellow reminds me of sunshine.
Have a lovely Easter - Christ is Risen!
Alice
Sunday, April 16, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by DandelionSeeds
Just dropping by to say "welcome" to the blog world!
Blessings,
Amy
Monday, April 17, 2006 - Thanks for your comments
Posted by ktneis
You words were reassuring thanks for stopping by. I feel I should continue to HS thru the summer due to as much as they have missed. It also keeps their little minds working towards the good. Thanks for the kind words and Gods Blessing to you.
