An Easter Gift For You

The history of Easter goes back way beyond Christianity to ancient times of myth and folklore. Although Easter is a joyous celebration on the religious calendar, for many it has come to signify time spent with family and hunting for Easter eggs to squeals of delight. For many of you, with tears in your eyes and a deep pain in your heart, there is little meaning, there is little joy. Your family may now have become fractured and Easter just becomes another day to get through, just another weekend to face.

In this basket are beautifully decorated eggs. They have been handcrafted with love and care and today one of them will become your gift. The tradition of painting eggs to give as gifts can be traced back to times of old and is steeped in symbolism.

The egg represents new life. It is a symbol of renewal and hope signifying the thaw and welcome of the sun after a long hard winter. Each egg with its distinctive lines and distinctive colours means something. As you look into this basket, which one attracts you? Which colour are you drawn to? Which pattern appeals to you in some way?

The most famous gifted eggs were made by the talented jeweller Faberge in the 1800s. The Czar at the time wanted a special gift for his wife and commissioned Faberge to make a special egg made of precious metals and jewels. The only stipulation was that it had to be unique and contain a surprise. This gift giving tradition, this ritual, continued for many years and now Faberge eggs are treasured antiques and collected all over the world.

These beautiful hand painted eggs are from another talented artisan, Ingrid Lee. Through her craftsmanship each egg comes alive with colour and meaning. There is one just for you and you alone. I want you to pick one out in your mind and take it. It is yours. Keep it always as a reminder to you of the simple rituals that can become meaningful traditions each and every year.

As you think of this year, the days, the weeks and the coming months let the egg that you have chosen be a reminder to you of these three things:

Your hope in the spring thaw.

Your protection in the coming year.

Your renewal in the promise of life.

May the symbolism of what this egg holds flow into your life. May its uniqueness be a reminder that you too are unique and with such uniqueness comes a special beauty. May its colour bring light into a world where shades of grey pervade the space. May the surprise it holds unfold for you in the coming year.

Maureen Hunter is an inspirational writer and grief steps mentor giving comfort and hope to many. She is passionate about helping people to step through grief and build a new and different life after loss, one in which their loved one is always a part of.