Halloween

It is beginning already. :) The holiday debate season. I thought I'd get in on the act, but not to preach or set forth right and wrongs from my soap box. Just share my experiences.

My birthday is Oct. 28th. Some of my fondest memories are from Halloween nights. My mom celebrated my birthday on Halloween. All my friends would come over in costumes, eat cake and ice cream, watch me open gifts and then we'd set off around the block for Trick or Treating. My dad really got into it for us. He would dress up and act the fool. (If some one would teach me I'd cross out that horrible word and replace it with part.) It was all grand fun.

Then I grew up and had my own kids. What we all considered normal Halloween fun became distorted and dangerous. Then being in church I began to learn more about Halloween and all the things that were said about it and what it represented.

So through the years we've done different things. Some of the churches we attended had Fall Festivals with the games and candy and dressing up as Bible characters. Some times we stayed in and passed out the candy. My kids actually really enjoyed handing out the candy as much as dressing up and walking the neighborhood.

One Halloween, I remember my husband being at work and an older boy trick or treating at my door. It actually frightened me.

Now that my kids are older we just ignore it. We either find something to do away from home or leave all the lights off.

Every now and then my kids will say something that indicates a desire to participate in the Halloween events. Which means I didn't do a very good job of teaching my beliefs. I raised my kids trying to figure out what I really believed about the holiday.

So, based on that I would advise this: take the time to search it out between you and God, before you make any decisions and BEFORE you try to teach it to your kids.

Then, have an alternative plan. Don't try to take away something that the rest of the world sees as normal with out a clear concise reason as to why. I believe having something in place to pull their attention away from what 'every one' else is doing is a must.

I don't think that any of you that read my blog needed to 'hear' any of what I just wrote. ;)

However, I had a need to say it. We are all in different walks of life and in different walks with our Savior. I *love* the sharing of different ideas and approaches. But as Grafted Branch puts it; it is ourselves as individuals that will stand accountable before our God for the decisions that we make.