Whether you celebrate Halloween, or not, there is no missing it in the stores, movies, and books, at this time of year. Some of the symbols of the season can be a little scary, and intimidating for the preschool set. But, not everything has to be frightening...we've been having quite a bit of nonscary fun with spiders...
...and pumpkins.
And, our recent trip to Oregon, allowed us to demystify one more symbol of the season. We visited a bright, sunny graveyard, filled not with zombies, and vampires, but Great-Grandmas, and Grandpas...
...or at least the shells they left behind (happily all of the Grandparents we visited were followers of Jesus), the seeds, that will grow into their new bodies at the resurrection. Paul reminds us in I Corinthians (click the link to read the passage), that when we plant a seed, we don't expect the plant to look like the seed. The pumpkin seeds the farmers planted, produced the bright orange pumpkins, we've been having so much fun with, but which look nothing like the seeds. And, the bodies resting, like seeds, in the winter, will give way to new bodies, someday too.
So, visiting a graveyard, for a Christian family, anyway, is a lot like visiting a pumpkin patch, in the spring - not creepy, and sad, but happy, and hopeful, looking forward to the harvest, and all the fun, in the fall.
Find more thoughts, activities, and crafts at The Fantastic Five's new Bible Alive! Tuesday link-up, bringing the Bible alive for our children
It's great to be a homeschooler.
So, visiting a graveyard, for a Christian family, anyway, is a lot like visiting a pumpkin patch, in the spring - not creepy, and sad, but happy, and hopeful, looking forward to the harvest, and all the fun, in the fall.
Find more thoughts, activities, and crafts at The Fantastic Five's new Bible Alive! Tuesday link-up, bringing the Bible alive for our children
It's great to be a homeschooler.
9 comments:
Oh, wow, this is weird. My great-grandfather was named John Proctor! He is buried at a churchyard just a couple of miles from us. My maiden name was Proctor.
The Mexican Day of the Dead is very much the celebration of those who passed before us. Its a day to honor the dead. Its not a spooky holiday. The traditional belief is that the dead come back to celebrate with us on that day, so they are scary, they are happy to be reunited with their loved ones. People often go to graveyards on that day and have picnics.
Great post.
Okay, that is a way too cool post! What a great way to think of it, that I hadn't thought of before.
I like the thought that we don't pass on without a trace. But I am curious - what happens to those who didn't leave the body for various reasons? I would assume that theologically the body is not needed for eventual resurrection?
Natalie - I think Paul is speaking more metaphorically, to explain what we are now - is not what we will be. But, even if a body were needed, I'm sure a God who could speak the world into being, could gather up the elemental pieces left, in whatever state, for the purpose :)
Wonderful post. We try to make my father's grave a peaceful place. I love the idea of comparing it to a pumpkin patch. :) (Great heart owl cookies, btw.)
Oh, you have brought tears to my eyes! THANK YOU for linking up to Bible Alive! I know I have been blessed by this post, and I am sure others will be too...
Very good way to turn something (halloween) that is not always intended for good and use it as something good.
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