A great lesson for children at Trunk-or-Treat

The Daily Herald recently described an unusual part of Alleluia! Lutheran Church's Oct. 28 Trunk-or-Treat in Naperville: Alongside games and candy, visitors could make greeting cards for homebound older neighbors and assisted-living residents.

That small activity deserves attention. When children prepare a card for someone they may never meet, they learn that a celebration does not have to end with what they take home. It can also include what they give away.

A homebound neighbor is not simply somebody who needs cheering up. That person has a history, opinions, humor and a life that remains important even when getting out becomes difficult. The card matters because it recognizes a person who might not be in the room.

My Christian faith teaches that love of neighbor should extend beyond those who can easily return a favor. But there is no reason to turn a simple kindness into a performance. A thoughtful message does not have to be dramatic. It only has to be sincere.

I live in Colorado, but I admire the idea behind this local event. Imagine if the cards also inspired families to remember someone after Halloween, to ask what their older neighbors actually need and to make room for lasting relationships.

Candy disappears quickly. Being remembered can stay with someone much longer.

Douglas B. Vandergraph, Fort Collins, Colorado