Its Easter and once again I am trying to convince my Fantastic Five that Easter is NOT about chocolate eggs and NO there were NO bunnies at the crucifixion. Truly. Once again that’s proving to be a little difficult - thanks to the merciless commercialization of everything under the sun. Oh and Cadbury. Now, I enjoy a good marshmallow egg just as much as the next person - but do we really need not one but two public holidays to eat them on? There must be more to it than that. And of course for Christians there is.
I want to send out a huge thank you to TV3 for screening a great spiritually uplifting movie on Good Friday. The Five wanted to know – what will we do today on Easter? No doubt envisioning mountains of chocolate, wild egg hunts through the garden and hours of unbridled fun all the day long…and somewhere amidst the sparkly wrappers maybe, just maybe Jesus would get a word in edgewise. Aha! I replied with the TV remote, we will all watch “Jesus of Nazareth!” Best three hours we ever spent in front of the tv. Little son was appalled by the soldiers treatment of the Saviour – “but mum why doesn’t he just blow them all up and fly away to Heaven?” Big daughter was puzzled by how young Mary was – “but how could they get married at that age?” Little daughter was heartbroken when King Herod ordered all the babies to be killed. She announced emphatically “That wicked man is best friends with Satan!” All in all, the afternoon ended with a greater appreciation for what Easter is truly about. And there was still time for a few chocolate eggs after dinner.
With the state of the world in general being as shaky as it is, I take my job as religious teacher of the Five rather seriously. I think the Bible said it best ( as usual.) “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” I cant guarantee that my Five won’t grow up to be raving hard core criminals – but I can rest easy at night knowing that Im trying my darndest to make sure that if they do – they’ll be VERY afraid of what their mother will think of them. ( or do to them)
The endeavor to ‘train up a child’ is not without its challenges. Especially if you want them to be acquainted with Jesus Christ. The other night, Little Son wanted to know – “Does Jesus shoot people when they make bad choices? Can he see you ALL the time? How about when you’re hiding under the bed?” And I’m thinking – okay, so what is this child planning that he doesn’t want Jesus to see? And I worry if Im getting the right message across when Big Sister can terrify Little Sister - “When you die your body goes in the ground and all the worms and the bugs eat it and then that’s the end of you, so there.” But what about getting resurrected? Little Sister asks tearfully. “Then your body comes alive again but its filled with holes and rubbish from all the worms.” So we can all look forward to being zombies then. Great…
However, the joys of trying to teach children ‘the right stuff’ far outweigh the frustrations. Especially once you realize that it is they who are teaching YOU. Big Daughter teaches me about priorities…”If had to choose between heaps of gold and the scriptures, then I would choose scriptures because they teach us about forever.” Big Son has prayer all figured out. His job was to water the garden everyday over the holidays so every night he prayed for rain so he wouldn’t have to do it. Remember all that endless rain we were having? Hmmm... it could have had something to do with some earnest prayers…And I’ll never forget the time my car broke down just before we got to our driveway.
I got out to push a car full of screaming babies and noticed a son praying. We made it into the garage and I was feeling rather proud of my rippling ripped muscles when a little boy tells me – “You did it mum! Because I asked God to send a angel to help you push our car home. Did you see him helping you?” Now when Im stuck in a spot of bother, I remember the son’s example and take the time to pray for a little help before I start complaining.
Time and again the Five teach me. About compassion. When I was sick in bed for 4 months straight the Five were truly fantastic. They cooked, cleaned and fended for themselves as well as for me. Bringing me flowers from the garden. Reading me picture book stories. (making up the words as they stumbled along.) Giving me grubby, sweaty, goober-filled kisses and hugs galore. Little Daughter would pat my head and whisper softly in my ear “oh don’t worry your darling girl is here to make you happy mum…and I will smack little brother when he’s naughty because you’re too sick okay.”
About adultery:”it means when you kiss someone who is not your husband. So if mum goes somewhere and she feels like kissing anyone - she has to run home really fast and kiss dad so she doesn’t do any adultery.”
About how actions speak louder than words “If Coke is bad for us - then why are you drinking it?”(okay, okay...so Im a hypocrite!) “If sh.. is a bad word - then why did you say it?”(okay, okay...I hear you)
About forgiveness. I’m putting little terrors to bed after a rather stressful evening and Im NOT feeling the love. A Little Son prays “Please forgive mum for being so grouchy tonight and yelling at us. Its because she doesn’t sleep enough cos of the baby. We still love her.”
About faith. “If faith is like a seed then mines is huge as a coconut because I just KNOW that Jesus is real.”
But above all, the Fantastic Five teach me about love. I’m telling Little Daughter how much I love her... “As much as all the stars in the sky, as much as all the flowers in the world.” She thinks very hard for a moment and then a smile catches at my heart. “ Mummie, I love you as much as aaaalllll the rubbish in the world!” Now that’s a whole lot of love.
As Easter draws to a close, I am reminded of the Saviors words – “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Jesus knew that we have much to learn from our children. About humility. About what it means to be teachable. And He set the perfect example of how we should treat them. Im stumbling as I try to follow His lead – but Im trying…
Its late. The Five are finally in bed and I have time to think about how Fantastic they all are. (especially when theyre sleeping.) I give thanks for the opportunity I have to be their mother. Nothing challenges me more – or gives me greater joy. Through them I am better acquainted with Christ.
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