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