The Pumpkin Patch

Hart Inlow, pastor of St. John-Hill UCC in Boyertown, PA, told this good story on the discussion board at UCCtruths.com and graciously agreed to let me share it here:

When our sons were young, and nearing adolescence, we had a little saying we would use when one of the family members did something that could be misunderstood or "appeared suspicious."

That person was cautioned to "remember the pumpkin patch." It was a reference to a saying/proverb one of us had heard somewhere, to the effect, "If you want to make sure no one thinks you're stealing pumpkins, then don't bend over to tie your shoe while you're walking through the pumpkin patch."

There are those out there who are LOOKING FOR excuses to blame, criticize, and take offense. When we bend over to tie our shoes in the pumpkin patch, they are going to assume the worst. That doesn't mean what was done, was done wrongly. But it does mean we should not be surprised when others charge us with trying to steal pumpkins.

This is obviously a childish and simple way to try to help all of us to consider the possible results of actions you might take.

Proverbs 20:11 declares, "Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right."