03/19/2014 

Written by Amber Tafao

If you take a trip down the main aisle of a supermarket, many department stores, or other commercial venders at this time of year, you are bound to find a plethora of colorful Easter baskets; some filled with a variety of springtime goodies and others left empty and waiting to be filled. One Easter tradition celebrated by several European countries is to assemble a basket of food, cover it with a handmade cloth, and bring it to the church to be blessed. The food includes bread, eggs, ham, horseradish, and sausage. The basket is then blessed by the minister of the local church, and sits as the centerpiece during the Easter meal. The idea behind this tradition is thankfulness. It’s a beautiful picture of the thankful hearts that sit around the dinner table. 

If ever there is a time to give a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father, the time is now. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Create a centerpiece for your dinner table for the remainder of Lent. Use it as a reminder to rejoice, to pray, and to continually give thanks. You will be amazed at how this “attitude of gratitude” will change your heart.