I was so blessed by my Sunday School lesson yesterday.
The text came from Romans 12. In this chapter, believers are taught to do three things as they present their bodies as a living sacrifice to God and are transformed by the renewing of their mind. These three things are…
1. use the gifts that you have been given
2. love one another
3. love your enemies
I was blessed because for the first time I saw how these three things relate to Halloween.
As Christians we often struggle with how to “handle” this holiday.
Yes, it began as a pagan holiday and we don’t want do involve ourselves in paganism.
But Halloween doesn’t have to be a pagan holiday and we don’t have to celebrate it as such.
I learned yesterday that Halloween is closely related to “All Saint’s Day” which is a day to remember the saints of our faith…those that have lived the faith that we are pursuing…that have given and sacrificed and have even suffered and become martyrs.
I am so thankful for them.
I am thankful for the opportunity to remember them and teach my children of them.
I am thankful for the saints in my life that have been an example to me of how to live out my Christian faith and how to be a Godly mother and wife.
But I also want to be a light to our neighbors, I desire to love them and show them Christ’s love. As a family we have always allowed our children to dress up in fun costumes and we are home on Halloween night, handing out candy to our neighbors.
My husband asks the question, “Why would we leave our home and hide on the one night of the year that the whole neighborhood is knocking on our door?” He’s a very wise man.
So, today, on Halloween, I am going to have fun with my children. They’re dressing up as a ladybug, Strawberry Shortcake, Abby Cadabby, and Super Why. We’re going to have a little Halloween party with fun party food. We’re going to hand out candy (the best I could find) to our neighbors and welcome them into our lives.
And as a part of our day, we’re going to study and learn about a saint.
We’re also going to remember and give thanks for the saints of our faith and for a personal saint in our life…someone who has impacted us personally because of their faithful walk with Christ.
On this Halloween day I am counting by blessings…
373. nutella spread all over Jenny’s face
374. fruit basket given by my mother-in-law
375. being creative and getting messy
376. Friday and Saturday spent at home
377. watching my husband love on our children
378. cooking dinner with EA
379. my little ladybug
380. a fun neighborhood…getting “boo’d” and the Halloween party at the pool
381. little ones mesmerized by a clown that does tricks
382. freedom in Christ
383. saints in my life that have been a Godly example
What blessings are you counting today?
How does your family celebrate Halloween?
Also linked to: Halloween 2011 Link-up at 5 Minutes for Mom
Jenn says
We celebrate Halloween here too. I also think it is a wonderful opportunity to reach out to your neighbors. My girls are dressing up as firefighters. The moment they saw some firefighter rainboots in Target last June (!) they declared they wanted to be firefighters for Halloween. Your party foods looks so fun. Enjoy!
Monica says
Firefighters costumes complete with rainboots sounds like a lot of fun!! Your girls sound like mine…once their mind is made up, that’s it!! Have a happy Halloween!
Craig says
Monica, first I’ll explain this male face in your comment section. I’ll be attending Blissdom this year and although I hearted Blissdom last year, with all those bloggers it was hard to find the “faith bloggers.” and being a male – I can’t just run from woman to woman to woman introducing myself to everyone – that looks a little weird. So this year I’d like to meet a few Christian mom bloggers before the conference. I want to read and get to know them before the conference.
I blog in this community, in short, because moms write theology like nobody in the world. I graduated seminary reading only one book written by a woman – I’ve had more than enough male theology teachers. This year of blogging. I have learned theology with heart. Your post today – it’s a perfect example of theology with heart. I get the struggle within you – the same struggled at the church had. You bring the theology from the big into the home where it counts. I heart how your husband had such a great argument – and how that fit in. The Church had the same discussion. And choosing to teach your babies of a Saint – how perfect!
I’ve been writing. thank you’s with Ann for a year now – and every time I see a thank you list. I always choose a favorite – and a second-place. My favorite – well, how can anyone not choose your ladybug. Second place goes to your hubs holding one of your babies – a dad’s love is different from a mama’s – but so, so, so important.
By the way, my comments aren’t always this long – it’s just this first one. ? I look forward to meeting you at blissdom. And if it’s okay with you, I’ll be back to read more. Oh – and is it ok to follow you on twitter – I heart twitter. (and you’ll find I also heart using heart as a verb) God bless you and each and every one of yours Monica.