It’s “that” time of year again…a time of controversy and uncertainty of what is right and what is wrong. Each family needs to come to terms with Halloween before the Lord for their own family convictions and choices. I’m recapping the decision our family came to about 11 years ago and what has worked for us as an outreach into our community.
We have done many things from hiding in the apartment with the lights out, to leaving the house, to having harvest festivals or having Reformation Day celebrations. But we felt that this was allowing the enemy STEAL this day from God’s people. ALL days belong to the Lord, and we have chosen to RECLAIM this day for His glory! TODAY IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE!
So we now REACH out rather than HIDE out. We didn’t want our neighbors to see us as stingy people unwilling to give to their children. We wanted them to see that God really wants to touch their lives with love through His children.
We set up a table outside (granted, we DO live in the midwest so it isn’t super cold here – I’m sure we would come up with something different in we lived in Alaska or even back in North Dakota!), have bags of candy for the children sealed with stickers. Those stickers say (it changes slightly every year depending on the ‘heroes’ in the news):
Then, on our table we have a large thermos of hot spiced cider and a thermos of hot cocoa as well as 2 containers of different cookies, all of which is offered FOR THE PARENTS – and the teens.
We have had some pretty great responses over the years and some pretty cool conversations with the teenagers later in the evening. We generally hand out around 150 bags of candy. It is our #1 way of being involved in our neighborhood and local community – and for us to give and serve others on a night when their little ones only want to dress up and get candy.
This is not the way every family will deal with this day, but we have chosen not to hide away or to allow the enemy to take hold of this day for his own. We choose to claim it back for Jesus and to be a visible expression of His hands and His love to others.
Love this idea. I’m just naive, and never connected Halloween with something other than candy and kids’ enjoyment (unlike Christmas, which I make an effort to really have be about Jesus in our house, with the added benefit of sharing and giving presents).
We do attend church on the day after (Nov. 1) for All Saint’s Day, but I’ve only recently put all of this together (I was raised Protestant and converted to Catholicism when I married).
Hugs to you and your wonderful family and hope you enjoy your giving on October 31st.
I know exactly how you feel. I wrestled with this as a young mom AND young Christian as well. We, too, ignored Halloween, did church parties, etc. But God reminded me that HE is in control, and what a wonderful opportunity Halloween is to share His love with many. Now, my grandkids actually do more for Halloween than my kids used to, BUT one of the many things they do – and enjoy – is helping me prepare the candy AND the Bible verse projects to hand out, as well as sometimes coming to help me hand them out. Sweet joys for this Sandwich Generation grandma, I’m telling you.
How neat that you get to encourage your grandchildren to look at others and how to reach out!
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