Rotten Pumpkins

This summer is the first time we've been able to have a garden in a long time. And we've been enjoying it immensely. It's definitely fun to see the kids delight in watching the plants grow, and marvel in being allowed to pick a tomato and then eat it for dinner that evening.
One of the plants we're learning more about as the summer goes along is our pumpkins. We didn't think much of it when we stuck three little seeds in that corner of the garden. Several months later, the vines have snaked over our yard and we have quite a few of the gourds ripening in the sun.

Our first two pumpkins that grew and turned orange just got thrown in the trash the other day. Too late, I realized that where they had been sitting on the ground, the moisture had worked its way into the skin and caused it to mold and rot. There was no way to save those bright orange beauties we had been so excited about when they first started growing.
​Since then, we have realized that if we get them off the ground, they do much better. I found these plant stands at Bargain Hunt for $2, and they seem to be working well, don't you think?

Seeing the way the pumpkins did sitting on the ground and being suspended on the stands made me think about us as Christians. You are starting to learn how my brain works now, yes? Life applications in everything.
Anyway, think about it. If we stay down on the ground, sitting in the filth of the world, what happens to us? We may not see it on the top. Up there, we may look perfect, just like those pumpkins did. But when lifted up, the rottenness can be seen. And it won't get better as long as we stay there, either, will it?
But when we lift ourselves up away from the filth of the world, things go better. And what better "plant stand" for our life is there than the Bible? Doesn't it help hold us up and keep us growing like we're supposed to when we let it?
​Then, we can turn out like this guy.

So, what do you think? Should we all use our plant stands a bit more? Don't we want to be more like this pumpkin than the ones I just had to dispose of?
After all, it is almost pumpkin season. Don't believe me? Just check your local craft stores and Walmart! ;-)