Death by Chocolate (an Easter story)
When I say Easter, what's the first thing that hops to mind? For many people, it's "chocolate" or "Easter eggs". And who could blame them...
The shops have been flooded with sweet Easter treats since just after Valentine's Day.
As the mom of an adventurous preschooler who is severely allergic to dairy, eggs and nuts (and who flares if she has too much sugar), the chocs and eggs that have become the commercial symbol of Easter serve has both a frustration and an inspiration to me.
How I wish I could just buy her even one egg. To allow her to experience the delight of biting the ears off a bunny or nibbling the chocolate off to savour the marshmallow inside. But I can't. Just one chocolate egg could literally kill her.
I sat with the frustration for awhile. I even went through a stage of trying to ignore the chocolate aspect of Easter time entirely. Because, while there are allergen-free treats available now (which we are grateful for) in South Africa, there are no readily available Easter-themed 'safe' treats.
But this is a reality that won't go away, so I finally, prayerfully, made peace with it. And decided to creatively do something about it.
Because, when it comes to being allergy-aware - the mission is to exclude the food. Not the child.
So in our home, Easter is a very special time. We count down the sleeps until Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday. We have found hot cross buns that R can eat. I fill plastic eggs with 'safe' treats and activities so that she can enjoy an Easter egg hunt. And we read the Easter story from every version of kiddies Bible that we have...at her request.
Our precious family have also been wonderfully creative in finding ways to spread Easter bunny-theme joys without the allergens... cuddly pyjamas, delightful books, bunny-shaped 'safe' cookies, re-moulded 'safe' chocs and my bestie who is out for a visit from the UK found a 'safe' Easter choc for R (she savoured it over the course of 3 days!)... I am so grateful to our family and friends for their thoughtfulness and care!
The disciples of Jesus must have experienced such a range of emotions when Jesus died... Despair, fear, sadness. Then maybe resigned acceptance. Then utter elation at the resurrection. And so...the emotions we, as a family, experience at Easter, are actually a rather special journey in themselves.... The desperate sadness that we feel at seeing her deprived of something so wonderful. Then the gentle acceptance of that fact. And the inspiration and joy that is to be found in creatively finding new and exciting ways to celebrate.
When I say Easter to my nearly 5 year old daughter, the first thing that hops to mind for her isn't chocolate. It's Jesus's love. And when we say "He is risen" she says "He is risen indeed". Jesus is at the centre of Easter (and Christmas) for our girl. As He should be.
God makes all things work together for our good. I believe that R's allergies have actually contributed to me being a more intentional Christian mommy, and have helped us grow together as a family.
And I'm grateful!
