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Each Easter brings back so much from long ago that I recall, mostly those times I spent with my children as they were toddlers and growing up. 

We had three little girls and for many years, I would sew their Easter dresses. They always looked pretty for Easter Sunday at church, dressed also with new white shoes and socks, a purse and gloves and a hat. Most little girls at that time were really dressed up for Easter Sunday.

On Saturday night before, I would roll their hair so they would have curls for the big day and also make sure everything was ready for Sunday. Those were   busy weekends for me. I also had to cook food to take to the family gathering planned for Sunday noon and afternoon.

Church was always special, but after church things got really exciting for the children. We went to their grandparents’ home with the rest of the family for lunch and to hold a big egg hunt with all the cousins.

We used real boiled eggs, dyed in different colors. After the fun of hunting the eggs a couple of times, it was time to eat them. Most of the children loved the egg’s yellow center, but tossed away the egg whites. That was along with eating candy from the Easter baskets. Sometimes there were tummy aches from too much food.

Our son came along a few years later than the girls, and he wasn’t too much into the Easter “dressing up” but loved hunting eggs and being with the cousins. He was also happy with the toys and candy in his special basket.

Those years pass so quickly and then there are grandchildren coming to the grandparents’ house – and we are the grandparents! What lovely times we have to recall.

More time passes and the great-grandchildren are here. I am the great-grandmother just watching. Things are so different. Children hunt colored plastic eggs, but have just as much fun.

I remember one year at Easter the pastor of our church had a special lesson for the children. He came to church with an egg in his pocket that was beginning to hatch. He gave the children a special lesson about new life as the saw the little chick come from the egg.

It is always our desire to teach our children about life and about Jesus coming from the tomb. Certainly Easter has that special meaning. Jesus died; He did not stay in the tomb. He was resurrected. So many things at Easter to bring these thoughts to the children.

In our day and age, so much has been changed and it is important that we and our children understand more about Easter than dressing up, getting an Easter basket and having an egg hunt. Jesus left Heaven, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross for our sins. 

During Easter, take the time to acknowledge and thank Jesus for His sacrifice. Of course this is not the end of the story. Jesus arose! He is still with us. We feel His nearness when we pray, when we worship at church and especially in our times of trouble.

We should certainly take time during this special time to remember this and to love Him in our hearts.

He arose! He is with us! Hallelujah!

Retired as Associate News Editor, Bob Ann Breland writes a weekly column for The Daily News. You can email her at bobann70@att.net.