Tomorrow is the day. One of those days that children wait for anxiously to come to fruition. By now, they have their costume picked out and are ready to head out of the door to get as much candy as possible. At least that is how I remember it from my childhood.
But I cannot say the same thing for my daughter. You see for years I was on a Halloween boycott of sorts. It’s a little long and complicated so I’ll spare the details of how my religious ideas crossed that day off the calendar for years. But then…and but God allowed me to be exposed to a different school of thought. A thought process that allowed the gospel and the grace that Jesus clung to fill my heart. From that point I began to re-evaluate all the hardline beliefs I allowed to accept without much thought. I realized that Jesus did not run from difficult issues or situations but walked into them. Because He was all about people and relationships, He didn’t allow the religious leaders of the day to detour his mission. He exposed people to love and questioned motives of those who didn’t love at all. Above all, he accepted people even when He disagreed. That my friend is how I desperately try to live my life. I know I won’t agree with lots of people and I don’t have to but neither do I have to be hardliner devoid of love.
Therefore the better option to celebrate Halloween is something like BOOgers and HalloWEENIES. It goes like this: Get your friends together to grill burgers and hot dogs, have some chips and a ton of candy and welcome everyone who comes by to trick or treat. Enjoy and engage all the people and kids who show up because I’m pretty sure that’s what Jesus would do. You might make some new friends but I guarantee you’ll have fun making memories!
Is there a dark side of Halloween? Sure, there can be but those kids that are showing up for some candy could most likely care less about all that jazz. They are there because it’s fun to dress up and get free candy. Right? Those same kids like presents on Christmas even if they don’t know it’s the birth of Jesus. They are there for the fun and free stuff because they are kids. I wish I had learned to embrace that message about 25 years ago. I would have less regret and more sweet pictures of my daughter dressed up and smiling. I probably would have a eaten a few of her tootsie rolls along the way and we could laugh about that today.
At least I know she’ll be doing something Halloweenish while she’s bringing back the two-year hairstyle to complete her pumpkin look. She makes a pretty darn cute pumpkin! Love her so…
Here’s the original two-year fountain ponytail.
Have a Happy Halloween and enjoy your children embracing the fun of dressing up, eating candy and being kids.
This is the truth for today: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ~ John 3:17
Be blessed! ~ Carrie
Where I’m linking up.
