According to a quick search, apparentlyt Monday 21st October was national apple day while Saturday, 26th October was national pumpkin day, nicely book ending our half term here in Lancashire, for all who celebrate!
But, for most of us blissfully unaware of these days, one thing I have thought about as I’ve gone around teaching lessons on harvest is how we can celebrate the good gifts that our heavenly father gives us. In some of our harvest lessons we have looked at this through the story of Ruth and Naomi. A beautiful story of abundance and bountiful kindness starting as they return to Bethlehem together at the time of the harvest. A story where we see God constantly providing for their physical needs in the harvest fields through the kindness of Boaz.
Bethlehem, where this story takes place, actually means ‘House of Bread’ which couldn’t be more apt for this story as Ruth gleans wheat in the fields and fills up full, until the day God provides his ultimate salvation offering, through this very family, as Bethlehem becomes the birthplace of the very Bread of Life.
The story of Ruth reminds us of God’s good gifts to us, even in the times we feel most empty. It reminds us that every time we bite down into a particularly crisp and juicy apple, every time we carve a smile into a pumpkin that these small blessings point forward to God’s ongoing and ultimate blessing in his Son Jesus.
Ruth may never have got to meet her (many greats!) grandson Jesus, but one day we will. And on that day we can celebrate with Him all the apples and pumpkins and other wonderful gifts he gives us.
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