Holidays vs. Holy Days

I send my kids to this small, christian school; and I wrestle with this choice a couple of times during the year. I love the teachers and the principal. I know my kids are getting an amazing education, are getting equipped to become lifelong learners. And this school is passionate about faith and are true partners in raising my kids. This is one of those times though. Why? Halloween. Can I tell you how tired I am of people making WAY-TOO-BIG of a deal with this holiday?? Because frankly, it's just about the candy. If not, why are local churches throwing "Hallelujah parties" or sponsoring "Trunk-or-Treat?" So much of what they've created is based on a ridiculous mythology that was birthed from the pagan movement of the 1950s. History has shown us that really the women who were burned at the stake were not witches but rather midwives and strong, independent women. Also, the druids were simply like every other pre-Christ, fable-filled religion. It was simplistic and superstitious - not satanic.

So, my kids' school... the students aren't supposed to talk about Halloween...costumes, candy, anything. (Ironically, if we chose to send our kids to public school, they couldn't talk about Christmas & Easter!) It really tormented my 7 year old that she may be "partaking in the devil's birthday." And if you knew my Grace, she was sincerely concerned that she was sinning against God by wanting candy! My husband, who theolgizes at any & every opportunity, then began to speak to her on Romans 14 and how God gives each of us freedom to act & choose according to what our individual faith requires.

Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience. (v.5, The Message)

And why does God do this, b/c God looks at the heart & judges accordingly.

Forget about deciding what's right for each other. Here's what you need to be concerned about: that you don't get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I'm convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything as it is in itself is holy. (v.13, The Message)

Grace said she understood -- hopefully, in some way she did.

There's a real trick (no pun intended) to living in the world and not being of it; to loving people and being relatable, but still being holy and set apart. What kind of example am I day in, day out, to those who know the gospel, let alone those who don't! Am I salt & light, am I one who blesses, encourages, loves at all times? I just think that there's so much more to be concerned with as believers then to stress out over a little candy.