The Story of the Little Pumpkin

A Happy Little Sugar Pumpkin

As told by the Little Sugar Pumpkin. In his own words. . .

I’m a tiny little sugar pumpkin. It was awfully boring sitting in that store bin, but I have to say, there wasn’t much I could do about it. I kept complaining to the other pumpkins, “Oh my goodness, isn’t anybody going to pick me? Tomorrow is Halloween!” Sigh. We were running out of time. Sigh.

Would you believe it? Right then and there a nice lady with long white hair came over to my bin. Oh boy!!! I tried to get her attention,”Over here. Look at me! Yoo-hoo, I’m over here!” She was looking at all the other little sugar pumpkins. Holding them up and looking at their shapes from all angles. And then she reached down and lifted me up, twisting me this way and that way. “Hmmm,” she said, as I tried to be my orangiest best for her.

“My, my, you’re a nice little pumpkin. I think you’re perfect,” and that’s how I got to go home with her.

First, she washed me and dried me off. Next, she cut me a top and then cleaned out my insides. The lady told me she was going to make me into a personality. My face began to take shape once she finished my triangle eyes. She whispered to me, “You need to have a smile.” It took a bit of time and hurt a little bit but soon I looked real cool. She lit a white taper candle and dripped some wax inside of me and pressed a stub of candle into the warm wax. “Now, let’s see how you look.” She put on my top and then re-lit the candle. This time we both smiled; she at me and me at her.

“But we’re not done yet. You’ll see why I wanted a pumpkin shaped nicely on both sides.” The lady began to carve again. Soon I had a cross-shape on the back side of me. “Now, for a heart,” she said, “The cross wouldn’t be finished without a heart of love. The Father gave his son for all of us because of his great love. That’s why you have a cross. The candle is like the light of God shining out from within you, my sweet little pumpkin. I want everyone to know that Jesus gives us light and love. Everyone who looks at you will notice your cross.”

I felt all snugly inside after she said that to me. So that’s how I got a cross on my backside.

We went to church that night. She talked about me with the children at their Awana club. They liked it when she lit my candle. I glowed brightly for them. The children ooo’d and aaah’d. They liked me! As they looked at my cross, she told them that Jesus loved them and how the light of God’s love shines in us. I liked that, because it’s true. Jesus does love them, every single one of them.

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” That’s what I like to sing when nobody is looking. This is my little light and it shines the cross of Jesus to everyone who walks up to my owner’s door. She wants them to know about Jesus. Tonight is Halloween and I’m sooo looking forward to it. The kids will be pirates, ghosts, and witches, and I will get to shine my light for them. How cool is that!