Tale of a Pumpkin

The gardener chooses the variety of pumpkin he or she wishes to plant, then prepares the soil. By forming mounds to plant the seeds, the roots are forced to go deep for water, providing strength for the growing plant.    
   
Proper irrigation will allow for the right amount of water to the pumpkin patch, and a keen eye is needed to watch for pests like the Squash Bug, which will stress the plant and compromise it's health.  Routine weeding prevents the plant from being robbed of water and nutrients.  
 
Patience is needed! It takes 3 ½ to 4 months for pumpkins to grow and ripen. If a freeze is imminent, the crop must be picked right away.

The gardener makes the preparations, but God is the provider of the ingredients: the seeds, the water, the soil, and the sunlight. He also orchestrates the process of photosynthesis to create the miracle of sprouting and growth. He then enables a special someone to be custodian—or caretaker—of the garden.
     
The pumpkin—a symbol of the Fall season—represents a bountiful harvest and a time when friends and families gather for Fall celebrations and Thanksgiving. The pumpkin often serves dual roles as an item on the menu—or as décor.
   
From seed to full fruit, the pumpkin's tale is just one of many stories of one of God's miracles of nature.

As a gardener—or consumer—of the pumpkin, you are a recipient of God's bountiful harvest. Along with family or friends, you are part of an immense blessing—the gathering of God's people, coming together to celebrate and give thanks.      

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."
                                                                                     – 1 Chronicles 16:34