Yesterday was Halloween and I hope you had a happy one! It is funny this time of year when we all get a kick out of spooky things. My kids each have different personalities when it comes to being scared.
My oldest, the Honey
Badger, is now very casual about being scared and scary movies. He has always enjoyed some scary things,
starting young with an obsession with Scooby Doo. Honey Badger has now moved on but would still
enjoy a thriller even though he is “over” trick-or-treating.
My middle child, the
Comedienne, loves being scared and thrills even though she is the most quiet of
the bunch. It does seem to make sense as
she has the crazy sense of humor and can totally take a joke. Comedienne likes to plot to play jokes and
will aggravate her younger sibling by jumping out to scare her.
My youngest, the Feisty-Smiley
One, does not like to be scared, does
not like very scary or spooky movies, and prefers to go upstairs with someone
else this time of year. Enough said.
Upon the chance to
secretly deliver ‘Boo Bags’ to neighbors houses recently, Honey Badger passed
on the adventure. The girls were eagerly
jumping up and down at the chance to deliver a small sack of Halloween nonsense
to unsuspecting friends. If you are
unfamiliar, ‘Boo Bags’ are whatever you want to throw in a sack—cool candies,
trinkets, candles—and take at dark to a friend’s house. You secretly leave the bag, ring the doorbell
and RUN so you are not busted as the Boo Bag deliverer. Then that person should head out the next night
and pay the favor on another friend and it goes on! So they load up and head out. I hear that when they make a run for the car,
Feisty-Smiley One will just push sister out of the way and get herself in the
car as fast as she can. She is out of
breath and semi-shaken. Comedienne
arrives in the car…cool as a cucumber and laughs quietly. I think we will have to keep our eye on this
one!
So that brings me to fear
and how we handle it. This stuff is all
fun and games but how many of us really experience fear? I was reading a post
from a friend of a friend. Her dad is
going through a terrible battle with cancer.
He told her he could not sleep the other night and it was hard to catch
his breath. I have only experienced this
really once (slightly) and it was terrifying, but I am not facing the same
health struggles. I can’t imagine how he
felt.
She goes on and explains
the next part and it just hit me hard.
During this fearful episode, he began to talk out loud to the Lord. Then he prayed Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ
lives in me. The life I live in the
body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Wow. So many things flooded into my mind. During this scary, fearful struggle, he calls
out and claims his faith and trust in the Lord.
He is comforted by the victory of GRACE.
Her dad knows that the One who gave the biggest sacrifice for him knows
his pain and will comfort him.
She continues and explains
he was really grateful for knowing scripture and her continued prayer request is
that he will be able to keep his heart rate under control while going through
treatment. I sat with tears in my
eyes. I was so moved. More than ever I feel I need to arm not only
myself, but my children with the gift of a library of verses to help them
through life’s struggles. Sure, they
memorize verses but what about verses they can use as swords against fear? What about verses to light their path? What about verses to shield from indecision
or controversy? Well, I have lots to
do, Ladies and Gentleman! I thank God
for people who share their struggles with others and how the Lord speaks to
them or comforts them. So many times,
they don’t realize how much they make a difference.
Hope your Halloween was
not so scary! May the Lord comfort you
today!
With Joy,
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