Halloween Surprises

Surprise #1: People give candy to adults in costume

My mom is a super fun gramma. When she told me she was planning to dress-up for Halloween during her recent visit it didn't phase me. After all, she's super fun crazy young gramma. But then it hit me. That means I'd probably have to dress up too. Ugh.

My favorite thrift store in all the world bailed me out. After searching the aisles high and low for the makings of a farmer costume, I came up empty. Instead I ended up in the uniform section (yes, the store is THAT amazing that it actually has a uniform section). With my newly-purchased scrubs, the kids' doctor toys, and a hand-written nametag, I became "Dr. Mom".

My mom was stunning in her gramma gear as you'll see from the photos below. She brought smiles and laughs to many in the neighborhood. Clive clung mostly to his gramma for the trick-or-treating and he was fascinated by her gloves. Once he very sweetly went back to a house and asked them to give candy to his gramma. She was dressed up too and deserved some treats for her efforts!

Surprise #2: More pets get dolled up for Halloween than do adults

At least in our neighborhood that was the case. I'm not a big dress-up-your-pets fan but these dogs were pretty cute. Not as cute as actual children but cute none-the-less.

Surprise #3: My kids are selfish, greedy, unthankful beasts.

I don't know why that surprised me. I mean, I KNOW that we're all sinful creatures and I KNOW that sin is raging in the hearts of my children. Just as it's raging in my own heart. What surprised me is the way their selfishness came rising so quickly and acutely to the surface during our Halloween exploits.

We're pretty on top of our kids when it comes to thankfulness and practicing good manners. At the table they are usually (emphasis on the word usually) polite and pleasant to talk with. Both Chloe and Clive are generally sweet tempered, good natured and easy to correct. And maybe that's why Chloe's unthankful comments were such a surprise to me.

Because Chloe and Clive are usually polite kiddos, I didn't even prep them for the Halloween candy extravaganza that awaited them. I assumed that when people started handing them candy and complimenting their cute costumed-ness Chloe and Clive would naturally respond in kind -- with words of thanks and kindness.

Not so.

Chloe floored me with some of her comments. Here were some of the doozies:

"I already have lots of sweet tarts, do you have anything else?"
"Glow bracelets? I don't like those , I'd rather have candy."

And then there were the countless times I had to remind her to say thank you. And the times when she tried to grab more than one piece of candy without asking for more.

You're going to think I am an ogre-mom but mid-way through the trick-or-treating, I almost took Chloe straight home. I had had enough of the selfishness and it was making me sick to my stomach. I just wanted it to STOP. I realized though that would have been cruel and unusual punishment and I did NOT want to add a crying fit to the bad behavior tally for the night.

Besides the obvious lessons in thankfulness and abundance (seriously, can you imagine trick-or-treating happening ANYWHERE besides America?), this experience was a poignant visual aid for the gospel.

We are by nature selfish. Greedy. Gluttonous . Out of control. Consumed. In talking with Chloe about her behavior, it was a perfect in-the-moment teaching point about her badness and her NEED for rescuing. She couldn't control her selfishness. She needs someone to wash away the sins of her heart.

And I need rescuing too. I'm just as selfish, gluttonous, and consumed with candy (literal and figurative) as my dear children. I just have an easier time hiding and justifying away my sinful behavior.

As I look back on Halloween 2010, I'm thankful not only for the fun times, free candy, cute costumes (and truly, my children were THE CUTEST costumed kids in the state of Ohio), but also for the very real and very relevant reminder of my need for Jesus.

He's met me in my need and washed my sins all away. Removed them from my account and called me His own. WHAT LOVE! As I bask in that love, I choose to forget the bad-ness of my Chloe's words and look forward to a new day of growth and joy with her.

How was your Halloween 2010?