One Easter morning, the minister gathered the children of the church in the front of the sanctuary for the weekly children’s story. He began with a thematically appropriate question.
“Children, today is Easter Sunday. What do we celebrate on Easter?”
One girl spoke up quickly: “We remember our mothers and how much we love them.”
“No, that’s not quite right,” the minister replied. “You’re thinking of Mother’s Day.”
Then, an eager boy took a shot: “Easter is a time when we say ‘thank you’ to God for all the good gifts he gives us from the fields and orchards and supermarkets
“It’s always good to give thanks to God, but you’re thinking of Harvest Thanksgiving, not Easter. Children, what is the meaning of Easter?”
After a few seconds of awkward silence, another girl in a fancy Easter dress gave it a try. “Easter,” she said tentatively, “is the day when we remember that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Then he was buried in the tomb. On Easter morning, God rolled the stone away and Jesus came out of the tomb.”
“Excellent,” cried the relieved minister.
“And then,” the girl continued, “Jesus looked and saw his shadow, so he went back into the tomb and there were six more weeks of winter!”
meenister
