I think a lot about what I should and shouldn’t do as a Christian parent.
What to get involved it.
What to stay away from.
What to protect my kids from.
What to allow my kids to participate in.
Is it ever okay to tell someone else’s family how to raise their children? For someone to say, “Don’t let your children go trick or treating,” for example.
It can be emotionally exhausting at times. I think the emotional aspect surfaces when we second guess ourselves. When we look around at the masses and think that perhaps, we are doing everything wrong and everyone else is doing everything right.
We need to stop walking around with the shackles of fearful parenting. Since when did the masses tell us how to raise our children or what was right for a particular home? Your answer comes from the gentle whisper of your Father. As you leaf through the pages of His living Word, He will speak to you intimately. His whisper speaks much louder and clearer than a bickering crowd.
So whether it is
- home education or in a school building
- home birth or hospital birth
- trick or treating or avoiding any part of it
- bottle feeding or nursing
- large families or small
- watch television or don’t own one
- dance or don’t dance
- dresses all the time or slacks and sweats
don’t sweat it!
Seek your approval from God alone. If you know in your heart that you are making a God-honoring decision, move forward boldly and with grace. Never leave grace out, especially in your bold decisions. Grace is always dressed with humility and kindness.
So whether you will be allowing your kids to trick-or-treat or not, do it with grace. Extend grace and receive grace. Grace is a partnership.
{We allow our children to trick-or-treat, but we respect the decisions of parents that don’t.} If you choose to leave a comment, don’t leave grace out.
Beautifully written. You have wisdom beyond your years. I would say ‘God bless you’, but it is apparent that He already is…when you seek Him for the answers.
Thanks Judy! Love you.
Our boys 9 and 11 have always preferred to hand out candy. Now that we have moved they want to go with some friends while supervised but our toddler will not beg going because she has food allergies.
9 and 11 are such fun ages Kelly!
I fellowship with parents have very strong views about trick or treating. And when I tell them I allow my kids to go, well, I feel guilty like I am doing it right. Thank you for writing this post.
You are very welcome Barbie! Just cling close to the Lord, He will direct your steps. <3
Beautifully written as always!
Thanks sis!
We were never allowed to wear costumes or trick-or-treat. I honestly didn’t think anything of it. It’s just the way it was.
Because of that, we didn’t allow our children to go house to house, but we did go to local “Fall Festivals”.
We moved into a neighborhood that basically shut down the streets with trick or treaters every year.
We allowed our children to go with their friends and their parents, but we’ve never taken them ourselves.
Last year I was so bombarded and a little convicted (in my own spirit) about allowing the kids to go. I talked to my husband about it and he basically said that I was making a bigger deal out of it than should be. So, I just let it go…
I’ve been there. I think it is wise that you listen to your husband. Sounds like a fun neighborhood you live it! Love you girl!