Preparing our Hearts for Easter

How do you prepare for the Easter season? Maybe you decorate your home beautifully for spring. You might curate the perfect Easter baskets full of gifts and treats for the special kids in your life. Perhaps like me, you squirrel away a secret stash of chocolate separate from the other Easter goodies! Maybe you observe Lent in a way that incorporates prayer and fasting in the weeks leading up to Easter. It’s possible though, that you have never thought of spiritually preparing for this holiday. For most of my life I did not think much about the season leading up to Easter. Though I grew up very involved in church, observing the season of Lent was not part of our tradition. We celebrated on Easter Sunday by attending church and having a special meal afterward. And an egg-hunt, of course!

I knew some people observed Lent, but I knew almost nothing about Ash Wednesday or the Lent season. Over time however, I have come to see great value in religious traditions which I had not previously understood. I do not by any means pretend to be an expert now – but I have come to see beautiful meaning in many traditions which I previously had dismissed.

Full disclosure – this is not a comprehensive explanation or history on Lent or Easter. You’ll have to search out much wiser sources than myself for that. I’ll try to be concise, while hopefully still conveying the important meaning behind the Easter season. I’m also going to put out some book recommendations that I personally LOVE for the Lent/Easter season.

_{*This post contains affiliate links from Amazon and New Growth Press. There is no additional cost to you if you purchase through these links.}

The Season of Lent 

Lent is a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (charity). It’s a time of spiritual preparation in Christian religions. A time to prepare for Easter Sunday, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many people choose to fast or give up something during the Lenten season. Generosity to the poor, and volunteering are additional practices that are encouraged throughout Lent. These traditions help us to remember the most important aspects of our faith. Fasting and praying denies our own desires, in order to focus on the Creator who made us and loves us. Volunteering and being generous are not only acts of love toward people, but obedience to God.

Ash Wednesday: The first day of Lent is a day of repentance and fasting. During church services, a priest or minister places ashes on the foreheads of worshipers in the shape of a cross. It is a sign of repentance and humility before God. This year (2025) it lands on Wednesday, March 5.

Maundy Thursday: Jesus and his followers ate the last supper together on Thursday. This is also when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, and gave them the command to love one another as he had loved them (Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum, which means “command”). Later that night he was betrayed into the hands of His accusers.

Good Friday: The day Christians observe as the day Jesus died on a Roman cross. This act was to take the death penalty for all people. Jesus was the spotless lamb, perfect sacrifice. “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 (NIV) His death paid the price for all our sin, and reconciles us to God if we just choose to believe and follow Jesus.

“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Luke 24:6-7 (NIV)

Easter: Easter Sunday is the day Christians celebrate Jesus raising back to life, proving he is the Son of God and has power over death. This year it is celebrated on Sunday, April 20, 2025. 

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:20 (NIV)

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.”Deuteronomy‬ ‭11‬:‭18‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV

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My husband and I have kept this scripture from Deuteronomy as a theme in our home ever since having children. We want to talk about the things of God whether we are going for a walk, on a drive, getting groceries, or the kids are having difficulties with each other or a friend.

Something I do with our own kids during the Lent season, is read-aloud books that help prepare our hearts and minds for Easter. These books I’m sharing with you are all wonderful at explaining the gospel. I can honestly say, I am still learning new truths about God through kids books!

Especially great for any younger kids in your life, and can be read in one sitting (or multiple sittings if attention span requires) is:

The Garden, The Curtain, and the Cross – By Carl Laferton, Illustrated by Catalina Echeverri (Amazon sponsored link)

I think this book by Carl Laferton is an ideal Lent/Easter book for preschool through elementary ages. They even have a board book version ^{_{(Amazon sponsored link)}} for your littlest loves! I often purchase books as gifts for my kids. I also send book suggestions to family members who are looking for gift ideas for the kid’s birthdays/holidays. Books make fantastic gifts (you might hear that a lot from me)! They’re educational, don’t take up much space, and don’t have 50,000 pieces to keep track of – or, get stuck in the vacuum!

Darkest Night Brightest Day A Family Devotional for the Easter Season – by Marty Machowski, illustrated by Phil Schorr (New Growth Press sponsored link)

I really like this publisher, New Growth Press, and all I’ve seen from Marty Machowski’s work. This book is a unique approach to a family devotional for the Easter season. You’ll read it each day for a week leading up to Easter, and then each day for a week following Easter. During that first week, “Darkest Night” side, the beautiful illustrations are darker colors and they convey a somber mood. Then, on Easter Sunday you flip the book over and begin the “Brightest Day” side. The illustrations now portray that a new light has dawned, and this new chapter of our story is just beginning! Each day’s reading includes scripture references and a few discussion questions. When I first read it, my kids were preschool and elementary age. I felt it was perfect for this age-range, but will gladly read it with them again even though they’re older now. It’s an easy read – just a few minutes per day, and a moderately short commitment of 14 days (though you could read through it in a much shorter time-frame). Of course you can read it at any time of year, it’s just particularly good for the Easter season.

This one is extraordinary!!! I cannot even describe how powerful this book is, but I will try. With 40 days of reading, this book perfectly aligns with the season of Lent leading up to Easter. It is written as a family devotional, but I would even enjoy learning from it all by myself! Each day takes you through an Old Testament story and how it foreshadows or reflects Jesus. Every reading also has Bible references, a key verse, and some questions to reflect on together. I found this book to be meaningful and engaging for a wide range of ages. Who Is Jesus is probably best suited for 5 years and older. However, younger ones could still benefit from the fabulous readings and engaging pictures. It’s one of my favorite books we own. I cannot wait to dive back into it with my kids this Easter season!