Drew and I have agonized over halloween. We have read about the background of halloween, and its pretty scary stuff. We have also read other parents views, of the harm of it and of the joy of it. We have waddled back and forth, between turning our lights off or turning them on. We have wondered if halloween can really just be about dressing up and going door to door. Despite the darkness of the night.
We know people who are against it and people who are for it. Both groups are filled with parents we respect and love. We've watched our neighbors get to know each other and they are excited for this evening. And we have decided that we are going to turn our lights on. To welcome our neighbors. As parents we will focus on the fun of it and teach them not to be greedy about it. As they get older we'll explain the darkness. I don't want us to fear as Christians either, for in the darkness there is redemption.
So this weekend we carved pumpkins. Drew did actually while I puttered in the kitchen. Listening to them laughing and giggling. Watching as Maddie came along and quickly chomped on the side of the pumpkin. See the tear, that was from denying her the seeds. She apparently loves pumpkin, she would lick her fingers and run them along the inside and lick some more.
It was a fun weekend. And while we put our pumpkins out the neighbors were doing the same. We were laughing and there was a togetherness that was felt. Maybe it CAN just be about dressing up. We live in an uncertain world, where not everything is black and white and this is difficult for us. We LIKE black and white, its easy. But there is a whole lot of grey and that is hard.
Perhaps as the kids get older and ask more questions we will change our minds.
But for now, we will dress the kids up and walk around our neighborhood. We're not going far and the kids will just have little bags.
And they are excited. Carving the pumpkin was fun. And the pumpkin seeds roasted in the oven were tasty.
Happy Monday to whatever you are doing tonight, whether it is going out or having a family night!
Have fun! We always dressed up and went out but there were rules...we couldn't dress up as anything like a witch, golbin, etc and we couldn't go out past 13 years of age. Think we'll have the same rules for our babies!
ReplyDeleteCheck out this article - it puts a very positive spin on it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thinkchristian.net/index.php/2009/10/19/opportunity-knocking/
Have fun tonight!
Always thought I could ignore the darkness of Halloween and make it the fun, oblivious night we always enjoyed as kids for my own kids as well. Today I read an article that made me rethink that. But honestly, it FEELS harmless. It was so long ago that the evil beginnings of Halloween took place, and there is nothing of it in our little neighborhoods. Some people go too far with the death, scare and gore ideas and it does make people seem to think they can dress in any disgusting way- but this is just another thing of the world that we have to teach our kids about and show them the christian way. I think it can be fun and innocent. And we enjoyed it tonight with our family :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Erica for the link! I enjoyed that article, it does put a different spin on it.
ReplyDeleteAnd last night was fun, Drew walked with the kids and a bunch of our neighbors, the dads were laughing at the little kids excitement, it was really fun!