What's with the pumpkin that has a picture carved in it?  Today, I'm re-printing what I wrote in 2012 on October 31, and I hope you'll understand why I posted a picture of the pumpkin when you are finished reading it.  Here is that e-Devotional in its entirety: 

I simply must confess...I'm not a fan of Halloween.  I've done my level best to see the redeeming qualities of this holiday, and I'm just not coming up with many.  Some of the paganistic "roots" of the holiday cause me to shudder, and I am thankful that we never started the tradition with our own children.

 All that aside though, I also recognize that people participate in this holiday whether I approve or not.  What is the best way to let my light shine during Halloween when tricks-or-treaters knock on my door? Should I shut all the lights off in the house and hide in another room?

  Not in my opinion!

 "To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you."  1 Corinthians 9:21-23

 We can let our lights shine by being kind and decent to those who visit our homes, by handing out something nutritious, and by being a gentle witness to a loving God...in our words, actions, and demeanor.

For years, my mom handed out a little Bible verse along with her treats. I have wondered if those were ever read by those that received them, but I have always been thankful that she chose to do that, rather than give a lecture to someone about a holiday that might have gone against her religious convictions.

People are precious...even when we don't agree with them!