I didn’t think anyone would notice that the eggs were empty.

They looked perfect. Thanks to Kelly Klibert, an observant fellow dance grandmom who pointed them out while we were shopping, I bought plastic eggs identical to the ones on display at the dance school our granddaughters attend.

I returned home, emptied a large glass container of Christmas ornaments (don’t judge me), filled it with the eggs and called it an Easter decorating day.

As soon as my granddaughter Adeline saw the brightly-colored eggs, she picked one up, opened it, looked at me in confusion and asked, “Where are the jelly beans?”

Rather than be impressed at a 2-year-old’s memory of last year’s eggs, I groaned at the thought of another trip to the store.

“They are just for decoration, Adeline.”

“I want jelly beans.”

And soon we had enlisted her cousin Olivia to help fill those dozen eggs (and seven dozen more) with candy.

Of course, I took Adeline’s empty egg comment personally. In a good way. It caused me to self-evaluate and reinforce personal goals.

If I say I’m a Christian, and I do, I want to be sure it’s not an empty declaration.

I want to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

The only way for that to be accomplished in my life, according to John 15, is for me to remain attached to Jesus, the true vine, through believing in Him and obeying His word.

Christian. It’s not a label, but a lifestyle. Regardless of what I say or how I look, the only thing that really matters is what’s inside.

And if I’m empty of the character of Christ, Adeline and Olivia will notice.

Ronny Michel may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.