Generosity: What I Learned at the Pumpkin Barn!

The Pumpkin Barn

The Pumpkin Barn

On Wednesday morning the Homeschool Group, to which my wife helps organize, went to the Pumpkin Barn here in Graves County, KY.  There were over 60 of us in the group.  My family has gone for several years with our church preschool.

We love going each year. It is a beautiful country scene.  The kids have a blast and we purchase pumpkins and other Fall items.  But what is most impressive about the Pumpkin Barn, which is run by David and Donna Meeks, is their generosity.  It is a for-profit business, but that is not their primary goal!  David grows acres of pumpkins, gourds, squash, corn, and watermelons.  He works through the hot summer months to prepare for the Fall.

During the Fall he has school groups come out.  He told me he is booked every day between now and Halloween.  He gives them a hay ride, tells them about the plants, shows them how to make a bird house out of a gourd, and often gives away small pumpkins or leftover watermelons. They only make money when people buy items, which are very reasonably priced.

I have witnessed this for years now.  They do what they do because they love it.  They love the kids and showing them about the farm.  He loves the farm and growing plants.  But I believe they do it because they are disciples of Jesus; they have been taught generosity from the Master.  You see, they are members of the church and exemplify Christ in what they do in their work.  They have been great servants of the Bread of Life ministry here in Graves County which gives aid to communities during times of disaster.

With a family of four kids it seems that every where you take your family is just trying to get as much of your money as possible.  The Pumpkin Barn could charge for so much more.  It wouldn’t be wrong of them. People would pay it.  The American way says, they should!  But they are content and generous.

Ironically in my Bible study on Wednesday I read from 2 Kings 5:19-27 about Gehazi the servant of Elisha.  Elisha had healed Naaman the Syrian and refused his payment offer.  This apparently upset Gehazi who felt this was an injustice.  This foreigner should have paid for the healing he received.  Rather, than being generous and seeing that Elisha offered him something that came from God, Gehazi was greedy.  He went to Naaman and through a lie took a gift from him.  When Elisha discovered his duplicity, he asked him, “Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants?”  The implied answer is “No!”  It was a time to be generous.  To give, share, and bless without expecting or even accepting payment.

I left the Pumpkin Barn and the story of Gehazi more committed to being generous.  There are times we need to receive payment.  Our businesses must make money.  But let’s be generous, not greedy.  If you want to see what that looks like visit the Meeks family in Melber, KY.  You will find smiles and you will leave with one!  I believe the reason for such can be found in what our Lord said long ago, “It is more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35).

 

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