Easter Bunny

Dear Victorious,

Is it wrong to teach children about the Easter bunny? I've wrestled with the whole Santa Claus thing and find the Easter bunny is grating on me similarly.

Holiday Dilemma

Dear Holiday,

I don't suppose there is anything more wrong with teaching Santa Claus or the Easter bunny than there would be in enjoying fairy tales and other works of fiction, including modern-day cartoons. Mankind has been fascinated and entertained with fiction for centuries.

So what is "grating on you?" My guess is that it is the work of the Holy Spirit - convicting you of something wrong. You see, there is such a thing as carrying it too far. The holiday fantasies that we indulge our children in could - and probably do - serve to put that holiday in the wrong perspective for the child. Even Christian parents have probably often been more intentional in teaching their children the holiday fantasy than they have the holiness of the holiday. This is clearly wrong.

Could we celebrate Christmas without Santa Claus? Probably so. Could we do Easter without the bunny? Probably so. More than likely not that much would have to change. I enjoy indulging in those little marshmallow peeps and jelly beans myself!

Listen to that "grating sound" in your soul and ask God to show you how He wants you to celebrate Easter. And don't be surprised if He asks you to push the Easter bunny to the background ... where it belongs.