One fall, in celebration of the season I decided the family would carve pumpkins, a messy messy massacre but the quality time was the aim. Between the muscle and bustle of the new school year, sports and our work schedules, we all needed a break in the week. The kids were ecstatic, and it was a first for me. Growing up watching this sort of activity only on TV, I was determined to give my children the experience I’d never had. So, we went to the store, purchased two of the best shaped pumpkins we could find, grabbed our tools and marched into the back yard. Truth be told it was less masterpiece, more botch job but it was quality time well worth it and I wouldn’t change anything. As we were all failing in good fun to carve this pumpkin my son and the baby of the house ran off to plant a pumpkin seed. With everything in his little heart, he just knew that if he planted it, it would grow, and he’d have pumpkins. I wasn’t going to tell him otherwise, so he planted it. Taking his tiny little fingers, digging them through the dirt he makes a whole. Now covered from head to toe in dirt he was triumphant. He had successfully laid the foundation for the seed he was about to earnestly plant.
Seed in hand and the look of determination in his face he planted his seed that day in the backyard. Each passing day thereafter yielded the same question, “Mommy can I go check my pumpkins?” Emphasis on the plural pumpkin. He was asking to see if there were any fruit from his labor, believing in nothing but the possibility that the seed he planted would grow. As the days went on his faith was not shaken, he knew that one day just one day there would be fruit for his labor.
Beginning as a sprout, then a stem, then a flower, soon enough we started to see what we thought was impossible. Our son was in fact growing a pumpkin in the backyard. Fast forward to today the pumpkin is rapidly growing, expanding and spreading its vines across the garden, thriving.
As I sat watching him amazed at his pumpkin a few things came to my mind.
First, this kid had the faith of a mustard seed (pumpkin seed in his case). He had unwavering faith that if he planted this seed that it would grow. Believing in nothing but what he knew to be true.
Second, with all his heart he consistently nurtured and believed in it. It was his passion project in the beginning but perseverance and belief yielded something.
Lastly and probably what I believe to be the most important foundation of this all.
He was pure in heart when it began.
While I do believe that good ole grit and determination are very important. I also strongly believe that there is a special something that adds to the fire when it is done from a place of pure intentions. Literally a flowering event. When the seed began to grow it was vulnerable, I’d watch him in awe when he would go visit it, moving any rocks or debris away from it. But as it grew I quickly learned pumpkin leaves and stems are particularly thorny.
Moving through the phases of something being new, vulnerable and yours to protect it now being rooted and established are important phases of growth.
As the world moves in seasons and cycles, so do we.
Anytime you’ve had an idea or goal or vision, that’s your seed. With a foundation of purity and your truth, its given purpose comes to life. It’s new, it’s vulnerable and yours to protect. Consistent nurturing and believing will allow it to grow and blossom. Grit and determination will then pave the way for roots and a defense all its own.
Regardless of the season you find yourself in, take time to be pure in heart and intentions. This forms the foundational starting point for any endeavor. Believe in the seed you are planting, and with persistence and faith, it will inevitably flourish, root itself, and come to life in ways you may not have initially imagined.
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