The Carved-Out Pumpkin

It is the time of year when many families are searching for that perfect pumpkin. When our daughters were younger, we used to walk the pumpkin patch looking for two pumpkins that met their specifications. After picking out their pumpkins we would then take an evening to carve those pumpkins, first scooping out the seeds and then carefully cutting out the facial features, until the orange-colored fruit (yes, pumpkins are considered a fruit and not a vegetable because they are the part of the plant that contains the seeds) became a masterpiece.

Did you know that pumpkin carving has its origins in the Celtic practice of carving out faces in turnips or other vegetables during Samuin, a festival marking the end of harvest and the beginning of winter, in order to place candles in them to ward off evil spirits?

Our carved-out pumpkins brought joy to our daughters as they looked over their works of art. In addition to the beauty of the pumpkin, the light from the lit candle inside the pumpkin shined brightly in the dark night.

As followers of Jesus we must also carve out time in our lives to be with Him. When we spend time with Jesus, and allow Him to transform us into His image, we too become more beautiful and we more easily allow the light of Jesus shine through us.

In 2 Corinthians 3:18 we read these words – And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

And Jesus tells us this in Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Are you carving out time today to spend with Jesus? Are you being transformed into His image? Are you becoming a light for the world?

If you are encouraged by this or any of my writings, you can subscribe to be notified by email when I post something new. To subscribe, click here. Once you put in your email address you will then get an email confirming that you wish to subscribe. Thank you.