Trickery

Where are them candy sticks? "Timmy, you better not of got you some of my candy sticks without me approvin' cause them Halloween beggars will be here tomorrow night wantin' a treat."

Beggin' at Grandma's

Last year, they turned over my favorite flower pot and took three jars of pickles from my back porch cause I didn't have no treat to give.  Three Halloweens ago, them tricksters painted all sorts of red and black stripes on Lucy, my best friend Molly's pig. Them tricksters is serious about this silliness. And I know for a fact from preacher Massey's cousin's wife who lives next door to that Grant clan who are covered with the devil's spots  that them heathern Scottish people brung this nonsense to this Christian nation. They called it guising on account of them being disguised, and it's just a pretty darn shame they couldn't leave that blessed beggin' custom over there with their own heathern kinfolk.  

I got flour and sugar. "Timmy, walk down to Molly's farm and fetch mama six eggs, will ya?"

I'll bake a cake for them beggars even though I'm mighty tired from this here sickness, from which the good Lord is takin' his sweet time in healin' me.  

Becca & Hope

Back to tomorrow's beggar's night.  I could tell you a few things you wouldn't believe like two years ago what commenced at Doc Robinson's place. When he was out deliverin' Helen's twins on Halloween night, some tricksters set fire to his office.  Lord help us all for your people have done gone mad and headed straight to the devil.  Smashing pumpkins, turning over wagons, and rearranging the scarecrows is right annoyin', yes, and not real Christian-like, but settin' fire to the good doctor's business is taking things a bit too far. 

It ain't right to gossip, but I'm goin' to tell you all about Molly and then of course what I done for her, bless her heart, when them beggars painted Lucy. This was back when I was kinda healthy and could walk two miles, so me and Timmy walked all the way to her farm with the good book, cause Lord knows Molly and Chester don't got one.  While Timmy was awashing up Lucy, I give Molly a lesson on doin' proper things for the good Lord if she wanted a bundle of easier life.  And by a bundle of easier, I mean Chester comin' home sober every night.  The verses I used come straight outta the book the good Lord used, the King James, the English King James, naturally.

It tickles me to death to tell y'all that all cause of me, Molly comes to church every Sunday, although I wished she'd dress a little more godly. And Chester has quit his drinkin' and carousin' all but Saturday night.  I told Molly to make sure that sorry ole Chester picks up some sweets for them silly tricksters every year cause Lord knows these tired legs can't walk no two miles no more. And Franklin, my husband who isn't the president even though our house is white but pitiful small and he ain't nearly as smart, done gone and sold our car and won't tell me why.
He had to ride a train home after he drove up to Chicago and sold it.I didn't kick him out because I'm a Christian woman.

Tricksters cousins Luke,
Hope, & Justin Glymph

Back to my special sickess which is more important than Molly and her no-count husband.  I don't know what I done to deserve this.  The onliest thing I can consider is that I ain't always real sweet to Franklin.  But, he ain't always real lovin' and sweet to me neither.  "An eye for an eye," and if he expects a treat of a sweet, lovin' wife, he best be a bit nicer husband. I'm guessin' that's why the good Lord give me this here sickness.  I been remindin' him of all my good deeds and been doin' more and more of them good deeds, too. 

I bet my house, don't tell Franklin, that the good Lord will heal me real soon on account of how I been gettin' His attention with my prayin'. If the good Lord wants me to keep on servin' Him and doin' all those good deeds like takin' soup to Mr. Owen after he went and catched a cold from fishin' and giving the widow Lewis grocery money cause her no count son won't, He'll heal me from my sickness.  I'll be a prayin' that same prayer til He hurries up and heals me.  If he don't heal his good servant, Mae, let's see who he gets to cook Sunday dinner for preacher Massey and those eight misbehaving youngins and that sickly wife of his. And what a treat my healin' will be for all the good folks in town I help. I just know the good Lord wants treats from me, and He sure knows what kindly tricks I'm pretty darn capable of doin'.

Tricksters Hope, Luke, Grace
& Daddy Luke

Unlike Mae, I'm glad Trick or Treating made its way to the United States; in fact, I miss sending my goblins out for Hershey and Snickers candy bars, treats that somehow disappeared from their bags by morning.  

Too bad I haven't always reserved Trick or Treating for Halloween night. I've Trick or Treated with God and prayed like Mae, with better grammar, of course. If He'll answer with a "yes," I'll definitely serve and pray more.  If He doesn't give me my desires, I may decide to disobey or threaten to stop serving or believing.  I've actually asked God to prove His love by making something good happen, like perhaps giving me a treat. I do like treats, and I'll admit I've actually expected a few from God. 

^"Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.^"Colossians 3:24

What is this inheritance? Maybe attention, financial gain, or good health.  What about happiness and an easy life?  That sounds fair enough.  Those earthly rewards are what I deserve, right?

"And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Hebrews 11:6

You know what's mysterious about serving God? God rewards us when we sincerely, diligently, earnestly, honestly, genuinely seek him.  And what happens when we seek him with all of our hearts? Rewards, treats, are no longer a concern. Our prayers are no longer "if you don't give me...." or "if you give me....." No more bargaining. Even when we don't feel rewarded by the world's standards, and sometimes feel tricked, our inheritance is a treat the world cannot give. It's an abundant, fully sufficient and satisfying, life.

I don't need to Trick or Treat with God.  An abundant life, with an occasional Snicker's bar, is treat enough.

Katy