Halloween on Paden Street

 

I grew up in safer, simpler times.  At least it seemed like that to me.  We lived in a residential neighborhood and lots of other kids lived there too. There was always someone to play with. During the summer we played with each other up and down the street.  

And Halloween?  Oh, trick or treating was so much fun. Todd and I walked from house to house with our friends to “trick or treat”.  Our neighbors were quite generous.  We always collected plenty of candy!

Another thing I loved was the decorations.  Some folks loved to decorate their houses with all sorts of things.  I remember one house in particular.  It was a few houses down the hill from us.  The yard and his front porch were decorated with all sorts of Halloween stuff.  When children walked up to the door and knocked, his wife would answer and give out candy. 

 As we got to their driveway, I saw him standing at a window. His arms were moving quickly.  It looked like he was pulling on a rope.  I just happened to notice movement in a big tree right beside their driveway.  I followed the movement and realization dawned on me. 

 The man had a “ghost” rigged up in that tree.  He had just finished pulling it into place ready for the next group of kids.  That just happened to be us.  None of my other friends had noticed.  “Oh this ought to be good!” I said to myself.

Todd was a few feet ahead of me, but I didn’t call him back.  I knew he would probably get scared, but I thought it would be funny.  Looking back on it now I feel guilty.  The Bible tells us we reap what we sow.  Maybe that’s why I am so easily startled now.  Who knows? 

This memory made me think about how we are supposed to look out for our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We should stop them before they run full head on into something that will endanger their souls. 

Scripture says in Philippians 2:4-5 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others.”

Hear is another beautiful passage. “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save a soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”  James 5:19-20

Ladies we can’t be like I was that night so long ago.  We cannot just sit back and watch our fellow Christians go off toward the path of sin without even caring.  God wants us to try to help them – to support them in their struggles and to call them back to the Lord. 

This is what loving one another is all about.  Let’s watch out for another. 

Christ above all things – Robin