I heard this on the way into work...like most of your pieces...they make me think and appreciate the good...I have two girls 4, and 7...I'm lucky and blessed to have several more Halloweens with my little girls who are growing way too quickly...this piece will give more meaning and appreciation for the moment that is happening right now...for future Halloweens or just playing Mario Kart with them. Thank you, MJ!!!

Halloween is my favorite day of the year, but I didn't go trick or treating because I have braces now. Since I can't go trick or treating, I know all the people who are having fun. I told my parents I can go trick or treating so I can give the candy to the orphanage, but my parents said no. But the people who like to get a whole lot of candy go somewhere far and they give you like a whole handful of candy. So happy Halloween to the people who went trick or treating.

In truth, immediately i didn't understand the essence. But after re-reading, all at once it became clear.

Amen!! Two of our kids are in high school and our little one stayed home with us...Where did the time go??? But we revel in all aspects of their lives and future.

You are so right with this one. What joy the memories bring, but also with a slight bit of sorrow in that it went by so quickly.
But then, the new chapter in life appears, the grandkids! WOW just wait. It too is wonderful and can't be understood until you become a grandparent.

I thought this commentary was on dropping Halloween. My wife and I think this is one of the darkest holidays all year. We just don't like it for our kids (7 & 10) who think naturally it's one where we get candy, and we get to dress up to get it.
With all religious implications out of it, just look at the outfits the kids put on, most of the dark things of life, goblins, witches, and who knows what else.

Have you looked where Halloween originated? Look into the history of it.

Now you can transition. Next year you and your girls can decorate your porch with all your collective creativity. And it turns Halloween into a much longer Halloween season, with the required group planning. And you and your girls can do something together for the enjoyment of all the other little kids in the neighborhood. And then after the little kids are finished, you can SCARE the big kids. Nothing is more satisfying than a scared 13-year-old boy. They think that is awesome.

The people who say Halloween should be dropped or comment on how it got started are missing the point. That was then, this is now. There are many things that are harmless now that may have had darker origins. (Are these the same people who do not want their children to read "The Wizard of Oz" because it includes witchcraft?)

Halloween is a fun holiday for children and can be enjoyed by adults as well and doesn't have to cost much to celebrate.

Since there is no longer a religious component, there is no reason why children of all faiths cannot join in the fun of trick or treating.

If you are a real Christian, why would you celebrate Halloween? What part of Halloween do you think God approves of? As far as the earlier post "that was then and this is now," God and his Son are the same yesterday-today-forever. God tells us not to mess with any type of witchcraft. God's holy days teach you the plan of God for mankind. What does hHlloween teach you?

Really, witchcraft? Is that what you think Halloween is about? It originated from people going from door to door begging for food in times of need, and when none was given, that's where the "trick or treat" comes in. Please do look into the history because sharing with others has God written all over it!
Oh, and I got married 11 years ago on Halloween outside with a minister, and my marriage is fantastic. No witchcraft or spells were introduced. Tell me, am I going to Hell because of that one unsacred day or will God consider it a holy day to teach me the plan of God for mankind?

I think God has a sense of humor and appreciates the fun of Halloween. Maybe not the gore and the seriously disturbing parts, but the fun stuff. I bet He thinks Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) is fine stuff, too.
Proof that He has a sense of humor? The duck-billed platypus. The bird-dropping moth. And my rescued puppy, a hilarious mix of pit bull, rottweiler and chihuahua -- little stubby legs and a bulky body and a heart of gold.

I'm new to this network, but this commentary and the posts intrigued me. First of all, I am one of those who hold onto nostalgic elements of Halloween: my mother helping me make a homemade costume for the big city parade, the laughter of my father as we got excited about the candy someone gave us, and comparing my take with that of my brother's. I won (don't remember which place) and got to go up on stage and get 5 silver dollars! And yes, as poor children our parents took us to the rich part of town. That was when it was safe to go indoors and drink hot chocolate and bob for apples. We were given popcorn balls and whole Hershey candy bars. We did, and I think all kids must, sort out the candy in nice, neat piles. What innocent fun! Let me lift up the pillars of responsibility and citizenship and share a horrifying story. One of the basic principles of my community work involves creating a safe and secure environment for children, one in which they can grow and thrive. Back to my story...on Halloween 2008, 12-year-old TJ was trick-or-treating with his family. His mother and baby sister stayed in the van. He, his brother, and father walked up to a house that had a light on. Then through the door the shots of an AK-47 rang out. TJ was killed, his brother and father injured. The young man shooting through the door was a convicted drug dealer. The innocence of this holiday has been shattered for all in my community. But it does not make me think of the day as dark. It makes me feel sad for TJ's family and committed to use the story to encourage others to take responsibility to do what we can to ensure safe communities for our children and to be the kind of citizen who steps forward and works to make the community better. All our communities are too violent today. I'm beginning to think America needs Character Counts now more than ever. I look forward to attending an upcoming training.

Witchcraft has become a pervasive element in today's culture. Just look at the books that young girls and teens are reading. Going to hell has nothing to do with getting married on a certain day. It has to do with rejecting Jesus Christ as the one who shed His blood on Calvary for our transgressions.