Holiday Connections

Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

“Mom, can we look up costumes? I’m not sure what I want to be for Halloween this year,” my eight-year-old said as she sat down next to me on the couch.

“Sure,” I responded, moving over so there was room for her as I brought up a new search tab. “What did you have in mind?”

“I’m not sure. It was so funny when Abe was a dinosaur.”

“Yeah, it was,” I said as we both laughed, remembering the blow-up creature my son had worn the year before. We made sure to take a video of him in the suit and still chuckle as we watch him waddle through our neighborhood.

We spent the next half hour looking through costumes—mermaids to princesses, cowgirls to even a hamburger. The options, to her young mind, were endless. She came up with her top three, wanting to discuss them with her sister before deciding.

Halloween has become a beloved tradition in our house. We see it as a way to connect with those who live closest to us, opening up opportunity for us to meet new neighbors and grow in relationship with those we’ve already gotten to know.

But one of our favorite traditions is visiting our former neighbor Al. Even though we don’t live in the same neighborhood anymore, the kids get dressed up every year, and our first stop is Al’s senior apartment complex. We spend time in the lobby so that the other residents can enjoy the kids and their costumes as well. It’s become my favorite part of the day.

Scripture says that whatever we say or do, we should do it as a representative of Jesus. Our family has decided to take the holidays and traditions of our culture and see if we can use them as an opportunity to love God and then show his love to others. Halloween has become one such occasion that we’ve decided to use for the glory of God. I’m grateful that it has become a beautiful way for us to connect with neighbors—old and new.

Kendra

Today’s Act of Gratitude

How can you, in a loving way, represent Jesus to others during holidays?