I didn’t grow up in a Christian tradition that placed a lot of emphasis on Lent. And now, as an adult, my church doesn’t emphasize the Lenten season, either.
Every year I realize Lent is upon us when I see my friends post pictures on social media with an ashen cross on their foreheads following their Ash Wednesday service. And I think, “Oh, shoot. I missed it again.”
To me, Lent feels like a train that flies by. You’re either on it or you’re not. And if you didn’t hop on it at the beginning of the season, there’s no point in trying to catch it late. As an all-or-nothing girl if I’m not going to do it right, I might as well not do it at all. I don’t want to pick a last-minute thing-to-give-up just to check a box for Lent. I want it to be reflective and purposeful. But I also don’t want to start a week late so…I end up doing nothing.
And then Easter comes around and it’s my favorite church service but…it’s just a day. And then it’s over. This is in great contrast to Christmas, where it feels like the whole world starts celebrating in November. Even though much of the celebration is secular, the reminder is still there. And even though I tend to miss the Advent train, too, I still feel like my heart is prepared when that holiday arrives.
So how can we replicate this with Easter? How can we reflect on the suffering and the cross and the gift so by the time Resurrection Sunday arrives, our hearts are prepared and it’s more than just a service with extra pomp & circumstance? The good news is there are plenty of ways that don’t involve a 40-day sacrifice or daily reading schedule. So if you’re standing on the platform with me because you missed the Lent train but still want to prepare your heart for Easter, here are some ideas.
Make a Playlist. Easter doesn’t come with the vast library of seasonal songs like Christmas does, so over the last few years I’ve started making a list of songs that feel “Easter-y” to me. I’ve got some that remind me of the resurrection, some that remind me of the cross, some that remind me of God’s goodness…but all speak to me in a different way. Depending on what I want to reflect on, I’ll pull out my playlist and listen to a few songs.
Read the Scriptures. “Lent” is fashioned after Jesus’ temptation in the desert by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11). Read this story with your family. Or, read each of the three temptations separately and discuss them at separate times. Or, read portions of scripture leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. Honestly, the possibilities are endless and there’s no right or wrong way to do this.
Do a Mini-Fast. Make this a family activity and talk about Jesus’ temptation, how some people give up something for Lent to remind them of Jesus’ suffering and make space for reflection. Choose something as a family that will feel sacrificial to give up and decide on a set amount of time for your fast. Maybe you’ll give up TV for a week, eliminate meat for five days, or your teens will agree give up their phone for a weekend. Make a plan for what to do when they’re tempted and how they can use that opportunity to draw closer to God. Clarify the goal isn’t to “get healthy” or break their tech habit but rather to increase their dependence on God. Reflect regularly as a family.
Commit a Verse to Memory. Display a memory verse in your home that reminds you of Easter. Once your family has it mastered, replace it with a new one. You can even use our weekly memory verses & coloring pages!
Check Out YouTube! There are so many resources online that explain Lent and Easter and anything else you want to know about. Find videos that fit your family’s life stage (small kids, school-agers, teens, etc.) and watch them together. Discuss afterwards!
Whatever you choose to do, don’t put pressure on yourself to do it every Sunday night or every weekday morning…don’t be so strict that you set yourself up to miss another train. Just be intentional about reflecting on this season and find creative ways to help your family prepare their hearts for Resurrection Sunday!
How do you prepare your heart for Easter?
