The Difference

Even though Jack is too young to understand much, I still sing to him and talk to him as though he can. I suspect babies start understanding what we're saying much earlier than we know, and I don't want to miss a single chance to tell him that I love him and share with him all the things I think are important. Or silly. Or funny or interesting.

This morning at 5 am he was cooing quietly in his crib. His chubby little legs were starting to kick up and down, and I knew he was in need of a diaper change and a bottle.

I walked quietly into his nursery and said, "Happy Easter, Jackson! Christ the Lord is risen today! He is risen indeed!"

He looked at me with wide eyes and cooed again. I picked him up and carried him to the changing table, singing one of my favorite Easter songs. Then I stopped and said to him, "Today we are going to church to celebrate the Lord's resurrection. Won't that be wonderful? And after that we're going to Auntie Debbie's for lunch ... and I think the Easter bunny (aka Auntie Melody) might bring you a basket of goodies!"

He looked at me with wide eyes--probably more in response to the sing-songy, hopeful tone in my voice than to the content of my actual words. As I changed his diaper, I said to him, "You know Jackson, the great thing about Jesus is that He is good to us even when we've been naughty and don't deserve it. The Easter bunny is great, too, but he only brings us gifts when we've been good."

In this world of "Get-what-you-deserve," I want to be sure my son knows that in God's kingdom everything is turned upside down. Jesus got what we deserve--punishment for sin, separation from His Father, and death. And we get what we don't deserve: grace, mercy, blessings, the acceptance and approval of the Father, and the hope of life eternal in heaven.

It's a pretty cool system!

I'm not against the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus. I want Jack to enjoy the wonder and merriment of these fictional characters. But even more I want him to love and adore the One who deserves all our praise!