October 31, 2011

Happy Fall ... Welcome to Seidler House!

Well, good morning Readers from the back porch of Seidler House.  I am feeling chipper this morning, filled with the memories of the fun time I had last night with the children and adults who came to our door ... 100+!  Pull up a chair and let's visit awhile before I drive Michael to his doctor's appointment then head for the ball field to watch Zachary pitch in tonight's play off game.  Go Zach!!

For quite some time, I haven't participated in the festivities of Halloween preferring to stay within the confines of the Fall Harvest.  My son and family always get into the spirit big time and I have helped them prepare for the little goblins gracing their home.  This year, we decided to do our own thing putting up a doggie gate at the door ... Michael handing out candy and me taking photos (with permission of course) of the kids.  It turned out to be a great way of meeting our neighbors and oohing and aahing over the children.  Even Sadie and Toby got in on the action thinking those kids were coming to see them!!  Tails wagging, they greeted all of them at the door.

I am fully aware of the beginnings of Halloween and all the scary stuff that goes with it.  There are still those that practice witchcraft, sacrifice animals and human beings, and operate underground coming out to howl on their special night.  Not folks to be messed with.  As a Christian, I am fully aware of the spiritual warfare that goes on in our world.  We are drawn to mediums, movies like Twilight, fortune tellers, tarot cards and the like thinking that it's just a game.  Not so ... the Bible tells us to stay away.  Believe me, folks, Satan is alive and kicking in America!!  If you don't believe me, turn on the TV.

This year, I decided to set up my home as a Fall Harvest destination and shared candy with the kids coming to the door.  "Happy Fall" is an appropriate greeting, don't you think?  It's amazing how excited the kids (and parents) were to pose for photos and pause a moment in their quest to get their bags filled with treats.  I was thinking that for children to come to a closed door was sort of ominous.  The night was warm and I wanted to experience the aliveness of my neighborhood.  Funny how you experience more with doors wide open!!

One group that came to the door was from the drama club at the high school.  They came in play costumes collecting canned goods for the hungry.  What a joyous, funny group they were.  I thought, "What a wonderful idea!"  They said they were doing quite well ... enough to have a car following them to collect their food items.

In the hustle and bustle of greeting waves of people, another group that touched my heart was a group of special needs children.  The girl on the left said Happy Halloween and Trick or Treat in sign language.  Another girl, could barely walk and was helped to the door by two chaperons.  The smiles on their faces ... well, the photo speaks for itself...

The tiny ones were so precious.  They came barely walking and in strollers.  I could understand the word "treat" that most of them could muster.  One little fellow wanted to give me his candy.  Mommies were proud of their babies and many made this night out a family affair.  I learned a lot about the makeup of my neighborhood ... there are some pretty awesome folks who live here.

The Lord God tells us to go to where the people are, loving them, praying for them, and blessing them with our love.  What was my purpose in serving God on this night of Halloween?  I opened my door wide to my neighbors welcoming them.  For the ones that were in frightful costumes, I offered up prayers that they would know the living God.  If they looked into my home, they would see the writing on the wall ... "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15  I wanted them to experience Seidler House as a safe house.

A beautiful Fall evening to welcome friends wishing them a very bountiful harvest!!

As I get older, I try to think of ways that I am able to make a difference in the world I live in.  I made a list of my strengths and spiritual gifts and found that I could bloom wherever I was planted offering love and grace to those around me.  My home has been and always will be a place of refuge for those coming to and through the door.

Always remember you are loved and prayed for ... YA YOU!!