I was born and raised in the Catholic religion, but that doesn’t mean I have all the answers to my children’s questions, nor the ones I often ask myself.
All learning starts in the home, and even though our children learn about God and Jesus in school, we must reinforce our beliefs and practices at home because, like anything else, children follow their parents’ lead. In our home, we prioritize praying before every meal, going to Sunday Mass, and teaching our children to follow Christ and what that means.
We teach and try to show our girls that following Christ means loving God, being a good person, and treating others with care and respect.
It also means that we understand the true meaning of the holidays we celebrate because they aren’t about gifts and candy. With Easter around the corner, the conversation can be a little tricky to explain why Jesus was tortured, died on the cross, and came back to life. It helps that our eldest child goes to Catholic school and that we attend Mass as a family each Sunday, so they can physically see Jesus on the cross. But explaining to children why Jesus’ death is important is just as crucial.
For little ones, it’s best to keep the Easter story clear, simple, and full of hope. It can go something like this: Jesus was treated badly and died. It was sad for everyone who loved him, but then he came back to life. He came back to show his love and God’s love for us.
It’s OK if they ask questions. And it’s OK if you don’t have the answers.
I recommend not making anything up and looking up the answers together so you both learn more about the faith. We also read several books that explain different Bible stories with colorful pictures so children can easily understand them. If they ask questions about the story, it is easier to reiterate what the story is about and point out what is happening.
The most important part is teaching your children about all aspects of the Christian faith, starting early and continuing those learning conversations, even if it means you learn it together.
For more Easter ideas, check out the Guide to Easter in the Coastal Bend here!