Halloween Visitors 2014
Giving Back
Halloween: For most children this holiday means a time to dress up as a favorite character—either charming or alarming. After an evening trick-or-treating, filling bags and plastic pumpkins with all kinds of sweets, the children go back to their living rooms and carefully sort out, trade and share all under the watchful eye of a parent. The same tradition repeats itself every October 31st.
Reverse Halloween: October 25 this year a group of children came into the nursing home dressed up in their costumes carrying with them candy and cards. I talked with the children about what they might expect as they walked up and down the halls of the nursing home.
Today these children did not come to receive candy but to give candy to the elderly, curiously watching from their wheel chairs.
These silver-haired people had been teachers, nurses, doctors, cooks, soldiers, pilots,. They had been homemakers and neighbors who had brought meals to the sick, and faithfully sent birthday, get well and sympathy cards.
They are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, friends, neighbors and grandparents.
The elderly residents always seem to light up when children come to visit. When the children gave out treats most were glad to receive them. But there were a few who felt uncomfortable with this reverse Halloween. When handed the candy they wanted to give it back to the children. It had always been that way. They couldn’t imagine that it could be any different.
The real treat brought in that day was not the candy—though it was eagerly received. It was the children and their mothers who stopped, saw, smiled and listened. I have noticed when people come to visit they often leave with smiles and hearts full of delicious blessings.
"Give to others, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.” Luke 6:38
Halloween: For most children this holiday means a time to dress up as a favorite character—either charming or alarming. After an evening trick-or-treating, filling bags and plastic pumpkins with all kinds of sweets, the children go back to their living rooms and carefully sort out, trade and share all under the watchful eye of a parent. The same tradition repeats itself every October 31st.
Reverse Halloween: October 25 this year a group of children came into the nursing home dressed up in their costumes carrying with them candy and cards. I talked with the children about what they might expect as they walked up and down the halls of the nursing home.
Today these children did not come to receive candy but to give candy to the elderly, curiously watching from their wheel chairs.
These silver-haired people had been teachers, nurses, doctors, cooks, soldiers, pilots,. They had been homemakers and neighbors who had brought meals to the sick, and faithfully sent birthday, get well and sympathy cards.
They are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, friends, neighbors and grandparents.
The elderly residents always seem to light up when children come to visit. When the children gave out treats most were glad to receive them. But there were a few who felt uncomfortable with this reverse Halloween. When handed the candy they wanted to give it back to the children. It had always been that way. They couldn’t imagine that it could be any different.
The real treat brought in that day was not the candy—though it was eagerly received. It was the children and their mothers who stopped, saw, smiled and listened. I have noticed when people come to visit they often leave with smiles and hearts full of delicious blessings.
"Give to others, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.” Luke 6:38