Reflecting On This Year’s Good Friday

As a Catholic mom of three who is also Ecuadorian, Good Friday holds a special place in my heart. It is a day that reminds me of the immense love and sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us on the cross. But it is also a day where I can show my children part of our Ecuadorian culture.

Let’s Go Back

To start, let’s go back to how Jesus’ crucifixion came about in my children’s upbringing. We are secular homeschoolers which means we don’t include religion in our studies. At least we didn’t. In the past, we would mention God and Jesus but never formally introduced these concepts to our children.

Until one day…

I remember it clearly. We have crucifixes all over our house and in each bedroom. My parents do too. Little Henry said, “Mommy, why is that man on there?” and so it began. Henry was about 5. Evangeline was probably 3. Adele was 1. I explained who Jesus was and why he was so special. The children took to him immediately. They were amazed that someone would die for them! Since then, I decided I would incorporate religious or faith studies (I hate the term religion) in our learning.

Today

Fast forward to the present. On Good Friday, Ecuadorian custom is to make a special Easter soup called Fanesca. I spend the whole day making this squash-based soup. The ingredients are symbolic of the 12 apostles (different grains) and the bacalao is symbolic of Jesus. It is easily my favorite soup ever! Sometimes I make a variant of it throughout the year but nothing is like the original.

Right now it’s just us and my dad coming together for the Fanesca. My mother’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia has progressed so much that she hardly leaves her room now. It’s hard for my dad to celebrate anything without my mom so the fact that we got to eat some Fanesca with him this year was refreshing.

What Good Friday Means To Me

Ultimately, Good Friday is a time for me to reflect on my faith and the love that Jesus has for us. It is a day that reminds me of the importance of forgiveness and compassion towards others. I am grateful for the opportunity to pass on these values to my children and to see their faith grow as they participate in the traditions of our faith.

What about you? What does this day mean to you? And if you have children, how do you incorporate Jesus’ sacrifice in their lives?

Best,

Jackie

Reflecting On This Year’s Good Friday is a post that first appeared on the website: Baby Henry Likes on April 8, 2023.