Christian parents will find that the Real Easter Egg collection from the Meaningful Chocolate Company is well worth trying

When it comes to Easter, there is one very important question that everyone should think about: When is it too early to eat a chocolate egg?! 

Cadbury has clearly decided that it is never too early or too late, since we can now buy Creme Eggs all year round! But the rest of the brands seem to be in constant competition to see whose eggs can hit the shelves before the Christmas decorations are put away. 

What is Easter about?

What do you remember about Easter when you were growing up? The chocolatey suspense, the eager anticipation of something new, cutting into the simnel cake, decorating eggs, the extra days holiday from school, family coming together, hot cross buns with melted butter……

As a child, I remember decorating hard-boiled eggs, dipping them in different colours. I remember watching the spring bulbs coming out and planting an Easter garden, hoping that the flowers would bloom by Easter Sunday. I remember lots of joy and laughter and I remember waving palm branches and crosses. But most of all I remember the anticipation and excitement, which I still experience at this time of year. The excitement of Easter Sunday often spent with family, where we would cut the simnel cake we had decorated. We might do an Easter egg hunt, but we would sing and share the chorus “He is risen!” with that familiar response of “He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!”

Easter is my favourite celebration of the year and as I have gotten older, the joy, anticipation and excitement that I felt as a child has deepened into a longing for more of God. As a child, I knew the importance of the season through story and faith, but as an adult I know and have more understanding of the significance of Christ’s coming, his ministry, his triumphant entry, his final days, death and most of all resurrection.

On Ash Wednesday each year, I begin my journey to Easter participating in Lent, choosing something to fast from (give up) for forty days. Choosing what to fast from is a personal challenge between you and God. It should be something that makes you long to spend more time with Him! Often, I give up sugar and chocolate because I want to crave Jesus as much as I crave them. 

If you look around you, the celebration of spring and new life is everywhere but where is Jesus?

However, each year, this seems to be a harder and harder challenge as the towers of eggs in the supermarkets grow, and the choices in chocolatey treats multiply. It seems that with every new ‘egg’ that comes out, a little more of the true meaning of Easter disappears with it. If you look around you, the celebration of spring and new life is everywhere but where is Jesus?