The Easter Season illuminates God's grace poured out for us. Grace is a favor granted by God through His mercy and kindness to those who accept it through faith, even though none deserve it.  Because we all are sinful and therefore unable to please Him, God provided a way for us to be saved from sin and death.  This is His gift to us. We do not deserve grace and can never earn or repay this favor. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)

Christ gave us the greatest of all gifts, salvation from our sins, through his death and resurrection.  Christians can celebrate Christ's gift to us on Easter Sunday by sharing a meal and sweet gifts with family and other Christians.  It is totally appropriate to give candy as a symbol of God's sweetest gift to us.  Such candy preferably should be in plain wrappers or wrappers decorated with Christian symbols and messages.

Families are somewhat coerced to celebrate Easter in non-Christian ways through mass marketing directed at children.  It is hard for parents and grandparents to tell small children "no" when the children see and ask for inappropriate but fun looking items.  However, every Christian family can establish a unique set of Christian traditions and thereby sidestep such marketing when it is inappropriate.  Family focused activities not only instruct children, but can form some of the fondest memories of childhood.  Such activities also strengthen both parent/children bonding as well as Heavenly Father /child bonding.  Family traditions are usually handed down through successive generations so they can produce immeasurable results over time – within the family tree and the secular world too.  As an example of this, the Jewish families of the Old Testament celebrated holydays which are still celebrated by Jewish families today, and in the same way.  Christian parents have a responsibility to ensure that the Biblical message of Easter is not overshadowed or lost among secular symbols such as the Easter Bunny.

Consider what symbolism and story line is portrayed on candy, and then consider not buying inappropriately decorated candy.  Think about making things like candy, fudge, and cakes with your children.  Candy and cake moulds are available in a variety of Christian shapes that could be used instead of a bunny.  Cookies can be decorated in any way you like.  The sights, sounds, smells and eventual eating of all such treats are very memorable.  Children love making good things to eat, and even older boys and girls still enjoy helping out in the kitchen during such activities.  While preparing these treats, it is an opportune time to remind your children that the sweet treats you are making represent God's greatest and sweetest gift to us – salvation.

Consider decorating Easter eggs with your children, noting that the eggs represent renewal; both of the spring season, and our rebirth in Christ.  Also, seriously consider hollow plastic eggs that you can put non-candy items into directly such as a Christian ring, necklace, bracelet, or a piece of rock candy (a reminder of the stone that covered the entrance to Jesus' tomb).  For larger items that would not fit in an egg, identify the gift on a piece of paper.  For many people, hollow eggs also symbolize Jesus' empty tomb.

At a family gathering you might tell the Easter story, re-tell family stories, say a special prayer, watch a particular movie, play inspirational and/or seasonal music, or read tracts from your church.  Do whatever else that makes Easter special for the whole family and establish patterns that when repeated annually will quickly become your own traditions.  As many Christian families begin shifting away from that which is secular and more toward God-centered family traditions, those secular add-ons will begin disappearing as demand decreases.

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