October 10, 2012 - Can Halloween Look Different?

I know many of us are planning our fall festivals and gathering our candies for the BIG Halloween event. I am really proud of my granddaughter who is now living life without sugar. She told my daughter recently that she didn't want to "do" Halloween because of the sugar. How many 9 year olds do that? I know MANY adults who can't go a day without sugar, let alone an event. :) How cool! But the truth is we really should be looking for an alternative to candy for ourselves and our young ones. I was thinking we could give out small tubes of Spry gum? All natural and most kids love gum. Yes? And for you, while handing out sugar-free gum, if you like vanilla yogurt, here's a new trick. Take a small container of Chobani yogurt (fat free, sugar free, 100 calorie, plain) and add 2 teaspoons of Truvia and a tsp of clear, vanilla extract. Still it up and return to fridge for about 15 minutes so the sugar can dissolve and mix well. YUM x20! Again, I know so many of us will have dress-up days, staff candy days, etc to celebrate Halloween. Be a trend setter and take something healthy. One of the ladies at Life Group Sunday evening told of a man in our church who was recently diagnosed with cancer and they injected him with sugar water as it "would lead them to where the cancer was." They said that sugar seeks and finds cancer, and then perpetuates it. OMGoodness. So, can we declare that this Halloween is a SUGAR FREE DAY? Now, that doesn't mean go grab aspartame products - let's grab an apple and all natural peanut butter or make a trail mix that's healthy. And, when the kids come - give them some Spry gum. :) God has given us wisdom in the area of our health, let's share that in subtle and not so subtle ways. Giving a non-sugar treat for Halloween is not very subtle, but certainly much more healthy. :) How about we share additional things we could give away on Halloween (if you participate......our church has a festival)? Got any ideas? I leave you with this today - your life is a gift, your body is a gift, your mind is a gift. When someone gives us a gift, how do we treat that gift? Do we place little to no value on it and re-gift it? Do we place some value on it and place it in a box in our closet? Or.........maybe if it's a SPECIAL gift we display it for all to see as we are proud to be the recipient of such an amazing gift. Where are you today? Where am I? Let's take the gifts given by God and keep them in perfect condition and display them proudly as a testimony of the gift given and the AMAZING giver of the gift! Amen! Lord, we rejoice in this day! PK