Trick or Treat

So many things come dressed up in beautiful packages- pink, yellow tissue paper surround a pot holder. Your heart kind of sinks when you see it. Halloween is a time when you can dress up as anything you can dream. OK- some folks go to far. But my experience of Halloween 2012 was a different one from all the other ones I've had, and yes I've had a bunch.
I spent the afternoon and evening with my granddaughter's.  "No, Aha- no poodle" my 2 year old Stella says to me as she pulls at her pink fuzzy Fifi hat that completes her pink furry poodle outfit. Her lower lip trembled as she pushed it off as we engaged in a tug of war- on and off. Meanwhile, Minnie Mouse- my five year old Granddaughter aka Addi was urging me "come on Aha, come on! I'm ready to start!"
Stella was recalcitrant. She could not imagine what had gotten into me- forcing her to dress in a silly probably uncomfortable suit and being carried, ( she would not walk) around from house to house. But as she watched her sister and lisped Twick or Tweet she got it! Down, Aha, pease. Down she goes... and off she runs to the next neighbors house. "Stella slow down" I yell and start to run myself. Before I know it, not only is her sister a professional trick or treater but so is this very young child.
I was delighted to participate in the evening. No, I didn't dress up- I went as myself- I happy but exhausted grandmother. As the sun began to go down, and legs began to tire, I decided we needed to go to a local church where we could make more progress in a smaller space. There is something to be said for strategic thinking when it comes to trick or treating with two very young girls.
We entered an alternate universe- star war characters, monsters, vandals, pirates, princesses, cowboys, fairies all filled the local church parking lot- along with the noise and smells that go with 100 plus children. Some were aggressive- not pausing to let smaller children stay in line- kids learn early to be tough when it comes to getting what they want.
Thankfully, my two were into the magic and mystery of the night. The poodle- got sleepy- and her enthusiasm soon began to ebb. But the oldest- was on fire. She was happy, no joyful! To get to simply wander around on a school night and go around saying Happy Halloween and then to be rewarded by those 2 words with gooey chocolate, yummy lollipops, yucky candy corn and a wide assortment of candy was like a dream for her. Suddenly, I was eight years old again, roaming the neighborhood of my home in an Atlantan suburb. The scent of mischief, the taste of sweetness, and the sight of witches, ghosts, scary masks- came rushing back to me. It was a night like no other. A night where nothing was expected of you but to have fun. And to be safe, of course. A night where you could even play a trick and not get in to much trouble. Tricks then were simple. Ring and Run.
As the night ended and the girls faded, my sense of joy had increased. I was thankful. Thankful for the beautiful girls that I have been blessed to be a grandmother to- thankful that I could still take simple pleasure at their joy, thankful that people still wanted to make little ones happy by offering treats.
It's a strange holiday, isn't it? But a helpful one for me this year.  One that made me count my blessings- that there is one night in the year dedicated to just having fun. To being joyful. To getting to dress up, laugh, and receive sweet treats in return.
My years has not been a fun one. In fact, it has been full of more tricks that treats. But as I look back over the past 12 months, I can see that there indeed have been amazing treats among the tricks.

Yes, I was conned by a conman contractor who stole my money. Yes, my house burned down. Yes, I was depressed. Yes, I struggled with the trauma of the ongoing problems.  But now I see, that God was indeed still there providing. We are told to find Joy in all things. I must confess I could not and did not at the moment during this past year. But I see the hand of God now has been upon me- regardless of the despair, tragedy, financial loss--- People I never expected gathered around me- to help me in the horrible painful task of tearing down my house and then after the contractor ran away, more people stumbled into my life- to help me rebuild not only my house but my hope. My faith has been tested this past year- not my belief in God- just my faith- I have not had the eyes to see that it would eventually work out- nor the energy to believe this incomprehensible mysterious truth. But it has, it did and it will.
Who would have thought that it took Halloween- a poodle and Minnie Mouse to help me recover my joy and renew my faith?
Thanks Be To God!