For many many years, I’ve always tried to search for the perfect pumpkin: perfect shape, perfect orange, perfect height, perfect skin, perfect stem. I’m kind of a perfectionist. With pumpkins, with my family, with myself. I spend countless hours trying to achieve something that is completely unattainable.
I love the fact that recently, it seems there are just as many imperfect pumpkins. Have you noticed? There are roadside wagons filled with some orange, some white, some green, some combo pumpkins. I’ve even seen some with large warts and scars. I feel like maybe we’ve all embraced those non-perfect squashes! I love that.
I feel like maybe as a people we’re doing that more, too. At least I’m trying. Trying to let myself off the hook more. Let myself shine through the freckles, imperfect shape, imperfect everything! And that’s okay. God can STILL USE YOU! (and ME)! As James 1:4 says, “let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” If you’re letting your imperfections keep you from shining for Him, STOP IT! Embrace the warts and scars and let them connect you with God’s plan. It will be AMAZING!
I’m sure you’ve seen this, but it’s worth reading again. There was a 10-year-old little girl who was asked by another classmate, “what is it like to be a Christian?” The girl replied, “it’s like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off you. Then he cuts open the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. and then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.”
Come on all you imperfect pumpkins. Let HIS light shine through you!
~Brooke