| What are we teaching our children about | | | | overwhelming gift that Easter brings us all. |
| Easter? Who is the Easter Bunny and why does | | | | One concept that surrounds the Easter season |
| he bring candy? These can sometimes be tough | | | | above all others... that gift is HOPE. |
| yet somewhat inevitable questions for any | | | | |
| parent. Mark Bulleit, founder of Imaginary | | | | Why hope? What is it? Arnold H. Glasow said |
| Greetings and father of three young children, | | | | that the most popular form of hope is |
| shares his perspective on how any parent, | | | | expecting something for nothing. Perhaps, but |
| regardless of religious preference, should | | | | that use of the word is somewhat slang. Hope |
| answer this critical question. | | | | is a gift given to each one of us. It's the |
| | | | possibility of triumph over transgression. |
| When Santa comes to town, the underlying | | | | It's the strength in knowing that even |
| lesson of doing something for someone else, | | | | sometimes, under the most unfavorable odds, |
| with no expectations of anything in return, | | | | you can accomplish any dream. It's the |
| is understood. I mean, teaching our children | | | | serenity in knowing that at the end of any |
| the meaning of Christmas, on a level they can | | | | long dark tunnel is an opening to a whole new |
| understand, is not always easy. But, most of | | | | beginning. Come to think of it, it's what |
| us know the point we are trying to get across | | | | gets me out of bed in the morning. |
| to them. But what about Easter? What are you | | | | |
| teaching your children and why? | | | | Hope is such a powerful asset. We hope for |
| | | | ourselves, our families, our children, our |
| As a parent of young children I have had to | | | | friends and neighbors, just about everyone we |
| recently address this very topic. Daddy, why | | | | meet. From my little girl watching an olympic |
| does the Easter Bunny bring us candy? Hmmm... | | | | ice skater hoping that someday that will be |
| my initial answer, "I'm going to have to get | | | | her, to my neighbor hoping he gets the |
| back to you on this one." So let's take a | | | | promotion he's been waiting for, hope is what |
| look at that question. Yep, kids do keep you | | | | makes all our dreams seem possible. |
| on your toes. | | | | |
| | | | Easter signifies to the Christian community |
| According to the most recent census shows | | | | the resurrection of Christ and the |
| that 82% of all U.S. citizens claim to be | | | | origination of hope by every sense of the |
| Christian. This percentage is even higher in | | | | word. And Easter also marks the beginning of |
| many other major countries around the world. | | | | Spring when nature re-creates life giving all |
| The heart of the Christian philosophy is the | | | | things a natural sense of hope's very |
| remembrance of Christ's resurrection and the | | | | existence. Easter is a time to reflect on the |
| promise of his everlasting presence. And, | | | | gift of hope that we all have been given. And |
| Easter is the time for remembering a | | | | think of the the Easter Bunny as an extension |
| completely selfless unspoken bond, between us | | | | of this reflection on a level which our |
| all, strong enough to withstand an endurance | | | | children can somewhat understand. |
| of such pain, suffering and ultimately death, | | | | |
| so that all could be forgiven. | | | | So back to our original question, "Daddy, why |
| | | | does the Easter Bunny bring me candy?" My |
| But regardless of your religious preference, | | | | answer, "Well, for now, just know that it is |
| Easter can mean so many things. It's the | | | | a very special time for all of us and the |
| beginning of Spring, a time to witness | | | | Easter Bunny just wants to make sure it truly |
| re-birth all around us from the grass below | | | | is for you too and that you are not left out. |
| our feet to the birds that fly way above our | | | | Hope is a gift to all who choose to accept |
| heads. However, I believe there is one | | | | it. I hope you understand... |