Easter is, at its core, the time of year where many celebrate the resurrection of their risen Savior. It is also the time of year where we see colorful outfits, big hats, and long lines at our favorite restaurants. I do not know about you, but the children in my family love our Easter weekend traditions, like searching for eggs (well, at least my young ones), munching on candy, and spending time with our extended family.

Let me pause here and ask you a question, in all the hustle and bustle of your typical Easter weekend, do you find it difficult being able to experience the same level of joy that you may see in the children or family around you? Here are a few suggestions you can do to maximize your Easter weekend and just enjoy being in the moment.

Be Present. Sounds overly simplistic I know but trust me, it works. Stop checking the time on your phone or looking through your favorite apps, and just focus on experiencing what is going on in front of you. As important as it is to arrive at Easter church services or family events in a timely fashion, it is even more important to have a good attitude and not take everything so serious. With a thankful heart, try letting your kids, nieces or nephews show you the goodies in their Easter baskets. Pretend as if you have never seen them before and do your best to share in their excitement! Maybe even work a little magic of your own, such as putting together your very own jellybean garden.

Be Creative. Think of an activity you would enjoy doing with your family as much as kids enjoy egg dyeing and eating candy. It could be a walk in the park or taking a bike ride. Maybe it is going to a have an ice cream sundae. The key is making sure you carve out the time to do it. If there is genuinely no room in a busy holiday weekend to just slow down and enjoy being together, then do it before or after Easter. You should not feel the pressure to have to complete everything you may want to do in one day. Putting your ideal or most important family tradition on the schedule will do wonders for your mood, and it will show your family that you care about spending time with them.

Be Proactive. If your spouse does most of the cooking in your house, holiday weekends usually mean extra work. Is there an easy dish you’re good at and haven’t made in a while? If it would go over okay and you have the resources, you could hire a caterer or use the services of a friend who just happens to be a chef. The important point here is that however the meal is being prepared, you are giving back time for your spouse to do something else. If you are anything like me, and you are not the best in the kitchen, you can offer to clean up and do the dishes. One advantage of doing this is it can give you the opportunity to connect with your spouse if they are relaxing nearby.

Be Mindful. Easter bunnies and candy can have its place, but consider dialing down the commercialism of Easter. Try spending more time on what is more important to your family. For example, plastic eggs can hold scripture readings as well as candy. You could also sit down as a family and make a service jar. In this activity, everyone takes the time to think of small acts of kindness and service they could do for family or neighbors. Then you write them on strips and place them in the jar. You might decide to each do one a week. A service jar is also a great resource when a family member is having a low moment and needs to reconnect with the spirit of giving.

Connecting with your family during Easter does not have to involve grand gestures or scheduling a full calendar. The important part is just focusing on being in the moment, enjoying whom you are with and appreciating what Easter truly represents.

God Bless,

Doug Hedrick