Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Orange (the color) (11/19/09)
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TITLE: The Prayer Pumpkin | Previous Challenge Entry
By Kim Heffner
11/20/09 -
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The bright oranges, yellows, reds, and browns cascading around her were beautiful, and she realized they fell to fulfill the promise of spring. She felt the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 fall on her heart: “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV) A single leaf landed on her head, covering one eye. Laughing she peeled the leaf from her face to see the most vivid shade of orange and whispered, Thank you God for seeing me and for your promises. Using her cell phone she called Kim, whom had been through all the ups and downs of this last year’s process with her.
“Time to start the prayer chain,” she began, and quickly told Kim of the days events.
Kim hung up her phone feeling a little stunned. She had feared it might be something like this for her dear friend Michelle. What did this mean for her?
“What can I do Lord?”
She knew the only answer even as she spoke the words.
“Pray.”
And pray she did. Calling all the girls in their Bible study group, Kim formed a plan. She bought a bright orange perfectly shaped pumpkin, and had each of the girls sign their names in permanent marker. Kim was so excited. Since Michelle’s surgery fell the day before Thanksgiving, and she’d have to be in the hospital for the holiday, it could be a reminder of those who loved her. This could be Michelle’s prayer pumpkin. All those committed to praying for her could sign this for Michelle, and she could count on their prayers.
Michelle awoke from the deep fog she’d been in. Where was she? Looking around her for a few minutes, she remembered. The hospital. Blinking a few times, she saw her Mom, Dad, and something really bright orange. Was it the giant leaf that fell on her head during her walk? No, that wasn’t possible.
Finding her voice she managed, “Mom what is that orange thing in the corner?”
Her mom’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, “That my dear is your prayer pumpkin.”
“A prayer what?”
Michelle watched as her Mom lifted the pumpkin, a deep shade of orange, and brought it to Michelle’s bedside. Michelle gazed in wonder at all the names of her friends and family that graced the pumpkin. How amazing that orange had become her color of hope. Michelle held her Mom’s hand and smiled. She had never experienced a moment when she felt so truly loved. Looking down at the pumpkin she saw an unfamiliar name.
“Mom, Dad, who is James?” Her mom peered over the side of the pumpkin.
“He is a young doctor who was helping with your surgery. He was amazed by your story, and wanted to pray for you, too.”
Her mom softly giggled at Michelle’s confused look.
“He told me you were beautiful and prayed for you throughout the whole surgery.”
A year later, it is fall again. Michelle marveled at the brilliant autumn colors swirling around her, and at all the events of the last year. This time she wasn’t walking through the falling leaves alone.
“James, isn’t she beautiful?”
James smiled at their adopted daughter, a toddler from Nicaragua they had named Hope. Hope was delighted and busy chasing the falling leaves when a big leaf fell on her head. Michelle couldn’t stop the tears that were falling from her face, and laughed.
“Just as I suspected, an orange leaf for Hope.”
As she plucked the leaf from her daughter’s hair, she couldn’t help but be grateful for the answered prayers of those who signed her prayer pumpkin, and for the husband she’d met because of it. While things didn’t turn out exactly as Michelle had imagined, God had given her the desires of her heart.
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