Easter is the most significant celebration of the year for Christians. Setting aside this special time each year to reflect on what the gift of a new life with Jesus means to us helps us dedicate ourselves to Jesus more deeply all year long.

Yet the magnitude of this gift and the holiness of Lent, Good Friday, and Easter can get obscured by Easter bunnies, egg hunts, and the anticipation of baskets overflowing with stuffed animals, jelly beans, and chocolate bunnies. And you may still want to take part in a few secular parts of the celebration. (I like to think Jesus understands my love of Cadbury eggs.) Resurrection eggs help bridge Easter egg hunts and baskets with the real meaning of Easter.

The meaning of Jesus’s death and his resurrection from the dead also might seem difficult for children to grasp. But don’t underestimate what young children can understand about Jesus. I am amazed by what my preschool students share about their faith on a regular basis. I find it helps them to be able to experience biblical stories with their senses. The resurrection eggs are one way you can do this. The symbols in the resurrection eggs make a story from a long time ago feel more tangible and real. They help children connect the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross with their real lives.

When your children grow up, participating in activities and traditions like resurrection eggs sticks with them. Even as adults, they may look back on the eggs you make and open together as an important part of their early relationship with Jesus. You never know how God is working in their hearts.