Pumpkins and Pardons

Growing Daily

Pumpkins and Pardons

Writing about prayer and my kids’ persistent requests for pumpkins last week reminded me of an October day when my son was about ten years old.

We had gone into a dusty field to choose the perfect pumpkin. As he was about to get back into the car, pumpkin in his arms, he suddenly realized he was covered with dirt. Worse yet, so was his pumpkin.

He stopped and tried to brush himself off. He wiped the pumpkin as best he could. Then he climbed into the car and said, “Thanks for my pumpkin, Mom. Sorry I’m so dirty.”

I have often thought about how perfectly that moment captured a spiritually healthy way to approach God. My son knew he was loved and was thankful for the pumpkin. He also knew he was dirty. He expressed his gratitude while also acknowledging his dirt.

What a beautiful picture of how we can approach our Father. Like my son with his pumpkin, we can come to God simply—with both gratitude and honesty. We draw near the Father by thanking Him for His goodness while confessing the places we still need His cleansing (James 4:8).

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins…” (Psalm 103:2-3).


- Catherine Reid