Making Easter Story Cookies: A devotional story for children

But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

—Matthew 28:5-6 NKJV

When Grandma came to visit, she and Layla made Easter Story Cookies.

Grandma placed pecans in a zipper baggie, then Layla beat the nuts with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. While Layla worked, Grandma said, “I love you so much, Layla. It’s hard to imagine that anyone could love you any more than I do, but God does. He wants you—and me and everyone—to live in heaven with Him forever, but our sin keeps us separated from Him. So He came up with a plan. God sent Jesus to die for our sins. When Jesus came, He taught and showed the love of God. This made some people angry and jealous. They had Him arrested. Beating the nuts reminds us that Jesus was beaten by the Roman soldiers” (John 19:1-3).

Next, Grandma put a teaspoon of vinegar into a mixing bowl. “The Roman soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross. When Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink” (John 19:28-30).

Layla tasted the vinegar. “Yuck!”

Acquainted with Grief: How do we overcome sorrow and disappointment?

He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.

—Isaiah 53:3 NLT

When I realized I had to cancel my spring break trip to visit my family in Texas, I was overcome with deep sorrow. I had longed for this trip for months. I hadn’t seen my grandchildren, Layla and Zion, since August, and their father, my son-in-law, as well. While my daughter, Emma, had brought their newborn, Tiago, to Maryland in October, it still seemed too much time had separated us. But I had no choice as the pandemic pushed through.

Across the globe, we are practicing social distancing and suffering the disappointment of cancellations. Weddings, graduations, milestone birthday celebrations. We are sad, but we do it for the greater good.