Carving Pumpkins & Sharing the Gospel with Littles

Fall is here, and with it comes a fresh rhythm of family traditions and seasonal activities. In our home, we’re always looking for everyday opportunities to share the gospel with our kids—moments that help them see that faith isn’t something reserved for Sundays, but something that shapes all of life. One of those opportunities came recently when we carved pumpkins together for the very first time.

We don’t do much for Halloween, but this year we thought it might be fun to let our kids make Jack-o-lanterns for the very first time. Since they’re still young, we had just never done this before—and it turned out to be a simple, fun Saturday activity that opened the door for a gospel conversation.

We started by letting the kids pick out their pumpkins at Trader Joe’s (which was half the fun). Once we got home, we spread out newspapers, pulled out some washable markers, and let them draw the faces they wanted. They loved getting creative! We did the carving for safety’s sake, but the markers were perfect because we could wipe away any leftover lines once the carving was done.

As we carved together, we shared the gospel story in a hands-on way.

• The muck inside. When we cut off the tops, we let the kids reach inside and describe what they felt. Of course, they didn’t like the slimy seeds and stringy mess! It gave us the chance to talk about how our hearts are full of sin—and how we can’t clean them out by ourselves.
• Scooping clean. As we scooped out the insides together, we told them about how Jesus cleanses us from sin. He is perfectly righteous, and only He can make us clean before God.
• Not left empty. Once the pumpkin was cleaned out, we asked them to look inside. It was empty! But we reminded them that God doesn’t leave us empty. When we trust Jesus, He gives us His Spirit to dwell within us.
• The light within. Then we lit a candle and placed it inside the pumpkin. Just like that candle shines through the jack-o’-lantern, God’s Spirit shines through us. On our own, we have no light to give, but with Him in us, His light shines brightly for the world to see.
• Shaped by God. As we carved their chosen faces, we told them how God shapes us over the course of our lives, little by little, to look more like Jesus. This is called sanctification—God’s ongoing work in His people that makes His light shine all the more clearly.

Now we have two cheerful jack-o’-lanterns sitting on our front steps (Emerson’s even has eye lashes). Our kids love to look at them every time we come or go, and my prayer is simple: that each glance reminds them of the truth of the gospel.

Pumpkin carving might not become a yearly tradition in our home, but I am so thankful for the way God uses everyday moments to point our little ones to Him.