Shari's Sentiments

I suppose that some, may be wondering what all this fuss is about with this plant/vine growing in my yard.

Okay, so it is growing in this side yard thing, not the back yard and we live on a corner so all the passers-by will see it (them) eventually. I know this will be a scattered post — because it makes me think of two things. The unexpected and God. Which could be one in the same if you think about it. Like the saying, I heard recently, ‘a coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous’.

Unexpected and Forgotten
So I have two real loves cake decorating and children’s literature. Well now doesn’t that just make me super-fun the cake lady, preschool teacher, children’s author hopeful. I guess. Anyway months and month ago. I had these two pumpkins sitting out on the driveway for fall, Halloween – dare I say it yes for Halloween. I came home to find it had been smashed all over the street. So I threw it in the yard. Now I did this because I had read it in a children’s book of mine, Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White. I literally forgot about it, until…….

Later on in May, as the heat wafted into the valley. The grass and green weeds started to grow wildly. I noticed something strange in the corner of the yard. Wondering what it was, I zeroed in for a closer look. As I got closer…I looked with wonder. Wondering….hmmm???? Is that the….no way not possible. I could hear my mother’s words from 6 months earlier, “That will never grow, it has to be planted to root properly.” And all I did was cover it with leaves. And here we have what looks like the beginnings of a pumpkin patch.  I mean this was literally unexpected and forgotten about. I never expected this to turn into anything at all. I can remember as a kid the dozens of apple cores and seeds I planted in the back yard. No trees yet—that I know of — I mean come on I am an adult following the advice of a kids’ book. Really? Well anyway we’ll have to see where this patch goes. Will we have pumpkins or not? Only God knows….which brings me to my next point.

 God
Now, I did nothing. I repeat nothing (besides throwing some leaves over a smashed pumpkin) to entice this vine to grow. I mean I am no farmer and we aren’t exactly in the country setting. And this is far, far from The Pumpkin Patch Parable. But this is very unexpected and now I am wondering what should I do? I tend to it, water it and monitor it’s progress. I love pumpkin pie and pumpkin cake so we will see what happens here. But the point is that this majestic vine grew on its own – by God’s hand. I mean I just threw it there, in the hopes that it would maybe root and a pumpkin would grow, and I forgot about it until the green shoots made their presence known. Something unexpected and great has graced my path. It may seem like small beans or squash, if you will, but this is one big plant vine. I mean pumpkins are not small. I wanted pumpkins and God provided pumpkins. God is the true vine and we are the branches. John 15: 1-11

So for this summer we get to enjoy this “BLOSSOMING” vine of nature, enjoy its lush green leaves and bright orange-yellow flowers. As this season continues on we will soon see the ‘fruits’ of this vine grow into nourishment for the body and until then I can rest assured that God’s hand is there to nourish my soul. I know I am blessed (I know I don’t often feel that way, sometimes I often feel cheated out of some of life’s better gifts, talents, and things). I know and see and give all the credit to God for the beauty that surrounds me. I would like to hope that I can some how add to it…