Normally I try to stay away from super controversial subjects. Things like the ongoing fruitcake debate, should a mom be an early riser or a night owl, and is it ever okay to “Unfriend” someone on Facebook who attends church with you. {Gasp}
When it comes to Halloween, there are two completely different celebration camps: Those-Who-Do and Those-Who-Don’t. And the conversations can become very heated very quickly. I’m telling you, claws come out when you question a mama who just spent 10+ hours sewing a polar fleece costume for her beloved little lamb.
This is not a new discussion. The debate of Halloween has been around for years. Whether you look at the pagan roots or the Christian traditions around the holiday, you will find a jumbled mess of historical accounts and opinions. Some sweet, some theatrical, and some downright scary.
In our household, we’ve chosen to take a somewhat unorthodox stand. We refuse to celebrate death and destruction. And we don’t want to give Satan one single day on the calendar. So for our family, we’ve decided to give Halloween a major makeover. (I’m stressing the our family part fully knowing that God sometimes calls us to different things. It’s important for us to seek His best for our own individual families. We are accountable for our obedience. Not our neighbors.)
As believers, we are called to celebrate LIFE: the life of Christ here on earth and the new life He infuses into our hearts. Then there are the lives of those He has entrusted us with, those in our homes, as well as the folks He brings into our everyday lives (whether a moment or for years to come).
Personally, I think it’s time to give off some life-giving light on what can be a very dark day.
Halloween doesn’t have to be a ghoulish intimidating time of year. My husband and I, with owning a party store, have decided to embrace Family Fun as the heart of our Halloween. Is your family planning on attending a harvest party dressed as the entire cast of Toy Story? We’ve got you covered. No Freddy or Chucky. No disconcerting Scream masks. Sorry to disappoint those who may enjoy horror films. But Woody, Jessie and Buzz? Yes please! Superheroes and princesses? Yep, got lots of those too. (And a super cute Olaf costume for the little snowman in your household.)
Please hear my heart in this. My purpose in writing on this controversial topic is to merely request one simple thing: That we be gentle with our conversations revolving around this subject. May we be quick to listen and slow to judge.
Let’s not allow one square on the calendar to alter our response of love and grace toward one another. Let’s support each in community and not further the gap of The Great Mom Divide. For those of you who feel strongly about not celebrating, let’s respect that. And for those who are still working on their shepherdess costume to help herd their beloved little lamb on the holiday, we promise to “Like” your wooly pics on Facebook.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Anne-Renee Gumley
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Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to a God-ward response to such a contentious subject.
Thanks for taking the time to hear my heart, Cindi. Yes, it can be such a dividing subject. May our response to the day bring glory to our creative God.