As I am writing this, my daughter is fast preparing for tonight's festivities. Tonight is Halloween, and she, like many children around the world, is getting ready to dress up in her favorite character and go out trick or treating. This is one of her favorite holidays because she gets to dress up like her favorite characters. Her first costume was that of an angel. Then she Hannah Montana. Last year, she was a cheetah girl. For those of you without young daughters, that's not an animal, but a TV show. I've been exposed to so much since she was born.
This year, she's going in her karate school uniform. Her mom and I were pretty surprised because she usually wants to get dressed up as one of her characters in one of her shows. We prodded her so much that she said, "OK, I will go as Nemo." Ecstatic that she changed her mind, I said that's great sweetheart. Then she continued, "daddy, you will be Marlin. Mommy can be Coral, aunty Mo will be Dory and uncle Lind will be Nigel." These were all the characters from the movie Finding Nemo, one of her current favorites. Needless to say, she will be going as the karate girl because we couldn't find a Dory costume for her aunt. She probably figured this was the only way to make us stop asking her to change her mind.
A friend recently shared her frustrations about her husband who believes that Halloween is the devil's holiday. He doesn't believe they should celebrate it. My friend says that the problem is, they have three children who love Halloween. What should she do? It seems like they have this argument every year. It brings up and interesting question for us Christians. There are many churches that believe this, that we shouldn't celebrate Halloween because it has pagan roots and seems to celebrate the devil and evil spirits. On the other hand, it has become such a national holiday that to deny our children the opportunity to celebrate is hard on them.
I am reminded of one of my favorite verses in the Bible. Paul said to the Corinthians that "everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial." Our church holds a Jesus Treat, where we encourage kids and families to come out for a night of bible games, food and trick or treating. We think it's a safe environment for the kids to come and enjoy fun and fellowship and also to learn about Jesus.
I don't believe in dressing up my daughter in a devil costume or a ghost costume. But I do believe that we can turn this pagan holiday towards the glory of God by allowing families to come together and fellowship. As long as I don't have to dress up as Marlin.
This year, she's going in her karate school uniform. Her mom and I were pretty surprised because she usually wants to get dressed up as one of her characters in one of her shows. We prodded her so much that she said, "OK, I will go as Nemo." Ecstatic that she changed her mind, I said that's great sweetheart. Then she continued, "daddy, you will be Marlin. Mommy can be Coral, aunty Mo will be Dory and uncle Lind will be Nigel." These were all the characters from the movie Finding Nemo, one of her current favorites. Needless to say, she will be going as the karate girl because we couldn't find a Dory costume for her aunt. She probably figured this was the only way to make us stop asking her to change her mind.
A friend recently shared her frustrations about her husband who believes that Halloween is the devil's holiday. He doesn't believe they should celebrate it. My friend says that the problem is, they have three children who love Halloween. What should she do? It seems like they have this argument every year. It brings up and interesting question for us Christians. There are many churches that believe this, that we shouldn't celebrate Halloween because it has pagan roots and seems to celebrate the devil and evil spirits. On the other hand, it has become such a national holiday that to deny our children the opportunity to celebrate is hard on them.
I am reminded of one of my favorite verses in the Bible. Paul said to the Corinthians that "everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial." Our church holds a Jesus Treat, where we encourage kids and families to come out for a night of bible games, food and trick or treating. We think it's a safe environment for the kids to come and enjoy fun and fellowship and also to learn about Jesus.
I don't believe in dressing up my daughter in a devil costume or a ghost costume. But I do believe that we can turn this pagan holiday towards the glory of God by allowing families to come together and fellowship. As long as I don't have to dress up as Marlin.
Lol@ Dory costume for her aunt. Great story Al!
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