Easter is coming soon, and it brings about thoughts of all the things that we are currently told not to do. Things like Easter egg hunts, Church or religious events, and getting together with family and friends for an Easter meal.
In my house we have always had an Easter morning egg hunt. The problem for me was what to do with all of the extra candy. I tend the spend the next week gorging on it. Also, what about the eggs that never get found… until 6 months later… those are never a good surprise.
Out of this came what I like to refer to as the Easter challenge.
Around 7 or 8 years ago, I wanted to come up with something I could do that might teach a lesson, and remove some of the candy. At the time The parable of the talents had been on my mind. It had probably come up in church leading up to Easter.
In the parable of the talents, a master gives 3 servants different amounts of talents (large sums of money, to watch over, based on his confidence in their abilities, then leaves on a long trip. When he returns, the 3 servants report back. the first two showing that they took what he had given to them and had doubled it. The third came and said he had been afraid, and had buried the talent in the ground for fear of losing it. This third servant was scolded for not even giving it to the bankers to earn a small interest, and what he had was taken from him and given to the first servant.
To me there are multiple meanings there:
- fiduciary responsibility. If you have been entrusted to invest or utilize money or any other item on someones behalf, you should do everything you can to be a good custodian of their wishes.
- god has given you talents and skills, be bold, cultivate them, and let them be known, don’t hide them. If you hide your skills, burying them away, you will lose them
This brings me to the big question … What is the Easter Challenge
I wanted to create something that would build skills, and give my kids an opportunity to use their creativity, teach self-sufficiency, convey the concept that you must first learn to help yourself before you can meaningfully help others, and teach the benefits of service to others.
What I did the first year was to replace the candy in the eggs I would hide with money. This also made finding one 6 months later a much more pleasant experience.
Just changing to money in the eggs doesn’t accomplish the challenge or teach any skills. The next step was Easter day after the egg hunt. I issued a challenge, if you can take what you have, and double it, I will match the initial amount you have. You can do anything you want to double your money, as long as it is not illegal, borrowed, and you can show what you did.
Watching them get to work is always amazing in what they do and how creative they become. There is some guidance and help that needs to be given from time to time, but kids have amazing drive and creativity.
This year I plan to have a new challenge. I want to incorporate an income statement and balance sheet into this years goals, along with some charitable giving goals. I can’t wait to see just what they do!
In closing The challenge is all about promoting talents and helping them grow. Don’t let your talents wither and die! Feed them, make them grow, and become the amazing talented person you are meant to be!
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