Tickled Pink Mommy: The Pumpkin Gospel

Have you ever heard of the Pumpkin Gospel? It's a wonderful little story to share with children when carving your family pumpkin this year. While Elizabeth takes a nap this afternoon Sarah and I are going to attempt to carve a small size pumpkin while Daddy is at work. While we carve I'm going to share this story with her. I wanted to share it with you in case you would enjoy sharing it with your little and big ones. The Pumpkin Gospel is written by Mary Manz Simon and is an adorable little board book that basically teaches that our heavenly Father cleans out all our "yucky" stuff and puts a light inside us to shine for Him. As you cut the pumpkin open and pull out all the "yucky" pulp, describe how God takes us and cleanses us out from all our "yucky" stuff (sin). The carving of the eyes, nose and smiling face represent how God makes us a new creation. Then as you put the light in the pumpkin, discuss that Christ comes to live inside us as a light shining through us in a dark world. Isn't that sweet!?!
I love this thought too that I recently read on-line. "Remember - October 31 is the day our Lord, Jesus Christ, has made. It is His beauty and light that we celebrate!"
May we encourage our little ones every time they see a carved pumpkin to remember the light of Christ shining in and through us. :)
And, finally, I wanted to tell you the Pumpkin Patch Parable. It is written by Liz Curtis Higgs. It's a little lengthy but do read it if you are so inclined too. It is so charming!

This is a story about a farmer and a pumpkin. Notice throughout the story how the word Farmer is capitalized - because as you will see the Farmer represents the Lord. :)

Here is goes:

"The Farmer lives wa-a-a-a-ay out in the country. On his farm He has a pumpkin patch.

Pumpkins are really special. They start out as small oval seeds that grow into big, orange pumpkins. The farmer plants the seeds, waters, and cares for the pumpkin vines and patiently waits as they grow.

Finally by October there are big, orange pumpkins in his pumpkin patch! Some are tall and lean, some are short and round, and some have bumps and lumps. But they are all pumpkins and all were planted and cared for by the Farmer.

One day the Farmer chose a pumpkin for a special project. He brings it in from the field and washes it off. You have to be careful with pumpkins; they're tough on the outside, but if you drop them, they break into pieces!

The Farmer takes a large knife and cuts a hole in the top of the pumpkin. Inside there is yucky, slimy pulp waiting for Him. That has to go! He cleans it all out and throws it away - never to be seen again.

After that He gives the pumpkin a new face! he cuts two triangles for eyes, a square for a nose, and a big, wide smile!

Then He does something really special. He puts a small white candle down inside the pumpkin and lights the wick.

How that pumpkin glows! As people pass by, they see the smiling pumpkin and smile back. They know that once again the Farmer has taken a simple pumpkin and changed it into a glorious sight!"

Isn't that sweet!?!

Now here is a picture of me and my husband before we were married and our carved pumpkin!