I'm not the only one who finds significance in baskets and Easter. In fact, in the Orthodox branch off the Christian church they are a symbolic part of their celebration--interestingly, the symbolism is much like a seder plate. Seder is a traditional part of the Passover celebration.
This year I really struggled with what to put into the baskets, or what theme to do. We've been in process of moving and other chaos, and it really came down to the last minute. What I DID know is that I wanted to stay within my ideals. You know, not a lot of cheap plastic junk. Or wasteful spending/consuming. And it must reflect the reality of Easter. I did manage to decide on a basic theme--the purpose, the deeper meaning of and reason for Easter. We know the what...but WHY did Jesus die on the cross and WHY did He rise again and WHY was it all necessary? I wanted to convey the purpose of Easter, not just the facts of it.
And what is the deeper purpose, after all, but healing the separation between God and man? God deeply desires a living relationship with us, now and through eternity, but because He is just, it wasn't possible without Christ.
Much pondering and half-heartedly attempting to plan a couple of different ideas later, I was shopping on Good Friday of all days and seriously about to just give in and buy a pre-made basket full of junk. My heart was not in this idea, but I was out of time. I stopped in the middle of Target and prayed, earnestly, that I could honor Jesus in my purchasing and basketing and if He would please give me inspiration I would appreciate it.
And He did. I was picking up some more band-aids when it struck me: A FIRST AID KIT!!!!!! Honestly, it really was the Lord's inspiration and not mine, because I was able to go throughout the store and pick up different items, thinking instantly of a gospel-related verse or concept or both central to the theme of Easter's purpose. Both my girls are getting older, and I knew that my eldest would appreciate having her own first aid kit more than a couple of cheap new toys anyways, and my younger daughter most certainly would enjoy having her own set of bandaids and ointments and such. Ginger is really independent in that sense these days, and enjoys having her own things.
The Lord is our Great Physician, and I've always considered the purpose of the cross not punitive but relational. The purpose was to bring healing and relationship, not so much to punish. The propitiation of our sins was the vehicle, not the purpose, of the cross. While necessary, it served a higher purpose: unity. What a neat way to communicate such a concept! After labeling a bin with their name and "First Aid Kit" on it, I included a little paper note about prayers to pray when sick or sad or hurt, and how Jesus is our healer, etc. I also grouped items and attached pieces of paper to each saying what each item represented. If you mouseover any of the individual item pictures, including the thumbnails, you'll be able to read what I wrote on the paper.
For instance, I included some wipes and tissues and put this message on it: "We all get dirty! Fortunately these wipes and tissues will help us become clean again. Dirt is like sin, it messes up our looks and makes us stinky and grimy. We all sin, and that’s bad news because sin separates us from God. But Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to take away our sin, so that when we pray “Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin” from Psalm 51:2, we know that only Jesus can wash us, and He WILL cleanse us from our sin. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:7-9".
Between all of the items in their kits, I believe I did a good job presenting the basic Gospel message with the deeper undercurrents of what Easter is really all about. It's not about sending some people to hell and making everyone afraid, or motivating us to 'turn or burn'. It's about God, the Infinite and Divine and Just, reaching out to His imperfect and blighted creation and returning us to our intended state while loving us despite the blight. On the bandaids, I wrote: "Bandaids are useful for covering over a wound like a scratch or cut. Without bandaids, wounds can be seen by everyone and might get infected with bad germs! The Bible says that love is like a bandaid. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8. That’s like what Jesus does for us! We have a wound called sin, and it’s Jesus love that covers us and heals us. He loves us so much!"
I included things that would be found in a typical first aid kit, like bandaids and ointment and such. I also included a few more...unorthodox ones. Like harmonicas. Because laughter is good medicine. :P
And of course I had to include a 'boo boo bear'. Every good first aid kit needs a cuddly stuffed animal to help you feel better!
We colored eggs the night before, and I filled a few re-used plastic eggs with candy. I snuck in to their bedroom and hid the eggs just before they woke up, leaving a trail of eggs to the baskets. :) I wish someone would hide eggs for me to find...one of my favorite childhood traditions!
The girls loved it, much to my delight! And we had a lovely little lesson all about the purpose of Easter, with our slips of paper and sweet conversations. Sometimes I am unsure if they are connecting the same dots I am connecting, even if I make it totally obvious, but I could tell that for at least some of the objects they understood! :)
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