Easter, kids, and religion

I took the occasion of Easter to try to impart a bit of religion to the kids since we don't attend church/Sunday school regularly. (That might need to change soon.) I explained that, beyond the Bunny and chocolate, Easter was all about the day that Jesus rose from the dead. My darling 9-year-old daughter tilted her head to the side.

"He came back from the dead?"
"Yes."
"That's pretty unusual. I mean, that just doesn't happen a lot."
"Right. That doesn't happen. That's why its special, and why we celebrate."
"So. How'd he do it?"
"He's Jesus. He's God's son. That made him very special."
"You know, people say 'we're all God's children'..."
"No. We can't all come back from the dead...well...never mind." I cleverly decided NOT to debate religious theory with a 9-year-old--she might win.

I told this story to my sister, who related her own version. She had taken the same opportunity to explain that Easter was actually a bigger holy day than Christmas. Her 13-year-old had doubts. Christmas seemed like it was more largely celebrated. My sister tried again to explain that, while that may be, the death and resurrection was actually a bigger story than the birth.

"And we celebrate that at Easter?"
"Yes."
"Why? It seems a much more Halloweeny thing. All that coming-back-from-the-dead and stuff. Why not do it then?"
About this time, her 7-year-old sister added in a helpfully spooky (and front-toothless) voice, "People wwwiiise fwom the dead at midnight!"

I think I'll stick with the baskets, and leave the significant stuff to the trained professionals...

Blogging--the down side

Okay, so work interferes with life. We knew that already. But I hadn't realized it had been that long since I posted something.

Ooops. Mea culpa, and all that.

I'll try to do better. Really.