I’ve never been Trick-Or-Treating.
I know, that sounds crazy, right?
But it’s true.
My mom was one who always did her research, and she knew the actual origins of Halloween. She was always really careful with us kids, and so she didn’t want us to get mixed up in anything more than fun, and she also didn’t want us to be scared by anyone playing any pranks, or wearing really nasty costumes.
So, when we were little, my parents always took us to “The Jesus Loves You Party” at our church on Halloween. There were tons of games and, even better, GADS of CANDY. We came home every year with newspaper bags FULL of candy. And, lets face it, for kids, Halloween is all about dressing up and getting candy!
These days, not much has changed. After work tonight, my hubby and I will load up the car with candy and snacks and drinks and head for the church, where we’ll pull in next to our friends at the “All Treats No Tricks Tailgate Party”. We’ll decorate our trunk, pull out the candy, and hand it out to approximately 700 members of our community who will come out to the church parking lot.
And along with us in the parking lot will be all kinds of folks. Some believe all the deep superstitions rooted in the holiday. Others don’t want to have much to do with it at all, because they feel it’s evil. But here’s my favorite thing to associate with Halloween:
Being a Christian is Like Being a Pumpkin
God picks you up out of the field and takes you with Him. He washes all the dirt off, opens you up deep inside, and scoops out all the yucky stuff…including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. He carves a new smiling face for you and then puts His light inside for the entire world to see.
And that is what life is about, isn’t it? We all have “stuff” that needs cleaned out. Every one of us is dealing with life and the challenges it throws in our face; we get filled up with the things of the world, and our smile is gone. We are not good for anything and may just end up rotting in the field…unless someone picks us up.
As a Christian, I know the joy of having God pick me up, clean me up, and fill me with the light of His Son – but there are hundreds of my friends and neighbors who have not yet experienced this thrill. We can leave them out in the field, or we can pick them up and share our joy. There is not shortage of opportunities to help people find the answer to their needs. Let’s pick ’em up!
Don’t you love that?! (If anyone knows the original author of that analogy, please let me know. I’ve heard it told over and over, and this particular rendition I took from HERE.)
How do you plan to celebrate Halloween? Whatever your strategy for the evening, I hope you stay safe, have lots of fun, and take some time to help those around you! Happy Halloween!
theroadtodomestication.wordpress.com 
What a good analogy! God’s grace is just awesome!
No one in my neighborhood celebrates Halloween, and the local shopping malls have cancelled their trick-or-treating activities. My little one is only 2, and doesn’t understand all of the Halloween stuff out there, so I didn’t make any efforts to get her a costume or anything this year.
I’m amazed by His grace every day! Sounds like you’ll have a nice quiet evening tonight! Your time is coming, though! 🙂
I really like the way you have explained Halloween. Good job. I am going to pass this along.
Thanks, Terry!
I love the pumpkin analogy! I’m one of those who love Halloween. All Hallow’s Eve – the night before All Saints Day where we honor those who have gone before us. And I love the costumes and passing out candy to the kids. This year, I’ll be leaving work a little early so I can see both my grandkids in their costumes. Our grandson will be trick or treating in our neighborhood with Pa (they are both pirates) and my grand daughter will be trick or treating with her Pepe in the next town over.
Peggy (from UBC)
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Peggy Nolan
http://thestepmomstoolbox.com
Yes, there are some great traditions there, aren’t there? I love the historical facts about holidays! And I’ll bet your grandkids are going to look awesome!
I’ve never heard that analogy before! LOVE IT! That’s exactly what being a Christian is like, though it sounds funny to say so. 😀 God bless!
It does sound kind of funny, but it works! 🙂
I have heard that analogy and love it. Tonight my husband and I will pass out candy as the neighborhood children come by. We love getting to see the little ones in their costumes and getting a chance to say hello to neighbors that we don’t get to see in the busyness of our lives. I, too, am a Christian but decided to focus more on the fun as opposed to the origins. I think it is great we have a choice and do what feels best for our families and our lives!
Only in recent years have I given more attention to the American tradition of Halloween. My baby girl (who is 26) was never allowed to participate in Halloween. I have avoided it for many, many years because of the negative attachments. I have 5 beautiful little grandchildren and just cannot miss any opportunity to see them happy so we do participate in the Harvest event at church now. Our church calls it Trunk or Treat but we do the same thing you guys will be doing. Thanks for sharing!
That’s great, Shirley! I love the trunk-or-treat style events – so much fun!
I love the pumpkin analogy, and I am going to share it! Our Church does an alternative party, too. It is a great way to reach out to the community and to have safe fun.
Exactly! I’ve talked to more and more parents who are a bit worried about trick-or-treating due to sexual predators and texting drivers, etc.
Awesome pumpkin analogy! You explained that so well. Our church doesn’t do anything like that, but I know many of the members participate in a trunk or treat event at our town hall – they hand out candy from the trunks of their cars 🙂
That’s such a neat way for the community to come together, Robin!
I really like the pumpkin story, really do! We will probably go to our church event( city jam) and take our kids to have fun!
They’ll have lots of fun!
What a great way to think of Halloween – I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of the day though I do like looking at the cute decorations people make. x
Oh yes, this year a lot of the decorations I saw in the stores were black, green and purple. They were almost pretty! HA!
I have never heard the pumpkin story before. It’s a great analogy and will pass it on.
Tonight will be like most nights here… kinda laid back.
Thanks for the great post.
I need a kinda laid back night…I’m coming over. LOL
Awesome post! We don’t do halloween and we usually go to the church too.
Cool! Always lots of fun!
I had never heard the pumpkin analogy but it is so true. We used to go to our church’s trunk or treat when the kids were younger, but they stopped having it a few years ago.
Well, that’s sad 😦 Hope you find something fun to do tonight!
We never “did” Halloween either. My parents also did’t have a tv for most of my growing up years, but for our tradition for Halloween was to rent a movie that everyone could watch, get pizza and go camp out at my grandma’s for the night. My grandma always bought candy, so we didn’t miss out on that. 🙂
That’s funny, we didn’t have a TV for about 6 years when I was young! I’ve never heard anyone else say that! Sounds like a neat tradition you guys had!
What a great idea to have a tailgate party – love the name too 🙂 Have fun!! ~Renee
We had a great time, Renee! Handed out about 750 pieces of candy – WOAH!
I’m with you all the way Kristen. We are doing nothing other than a normal evening. Right now the boys are playing with their toys. I’m doing my work on the blog and my hubby is fixing supper. Okay, so the hubby fixing supper is not the norm. But you get what I mean. Tomorrow is All Saints Day!
I was gonna say, I would LOVE the norm to be my hubby fixing dinner! Well, maybe just a few nights a week 🙂
Your mom sounds just like my mom, they would have gotten together famously. I never went trick or treating when I was younger either and even now my mom calls to find out if I’m doing it with the kids. She would prefer it wasn’t done. That is such a great analogy and one I’ve never heard before. Thanks for sharing.
See! And we both turned out just fine with no trick-or-treating! 🙂
The pumpkin analogy is a nice one. I love all of those pumpkins in that photo!
Thanks, Bonnie! I thought it was a unique pic, too! 🙂
What a very great reflection. The pumpkin story is wonderfuly. I will pin and share it. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Adelien! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this analogy. Your photo of the pumpkins is adorable!
Thank you! 🙂
I love dressing up and decorating in orange and black! Haha! But the Jews have a holiday called Purim. It is about the story of a king who tried to kill the Jews (seems to be a reoccurring theme!) and was stopped so we celebrate by dressing up and bashing this king in stories. Its all fun. But in Israel it is like their Halloween! No door to door candy grabbin but dressing up and partying in the streets. Lots of Drinking too because we like to drink to celebrate being free and not being killed off. 🙂
Oh yes, I’m familiar with Purim! I had just forgotten what time of the year it was held! HA! I agree, being free and not killed off is pretty awesome!
I also LOVE the pumpkin analogy!! I love the autumn season because of all the beautiful color and cooler weather. It is a fun time! Thank you for sharing!!
Oh yes, I LOVE fall! Thanks for your comment!
Love the pumpkin story! Trunk or Treat is always a fun option. 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Yes indeed!