Cornbread and Pumpkin

Cornbread and Pumpkin

By #Learnedman | Smiles R Contagious

It’s a Friday. I’m off today, sitting at home with that rare stillness that allows me to breathe deep and simply be. Later, I’ll head out and join the rhythm of the world again, but for now, there’s peace here.

And as I sit in that peace, I can’t help but think about food. Not just for eating, but for what it means. Food is more than fuel — it’s wellness, it’s calmness, it’s a balm for the body, mind, and soul. It nourishes, but it also gathers. It brings people to the table, invites conversation, and strengthens the threads of fellowship.

Cornbread and pumpkin.

Not your typical combination, I know. You don’t normally hear those two paired together on a menu, but that’s the beauty of it — sometimes the unlikely pairs are the ones that make you stop and notice. Cornbread has that familiar, homey warmth. Pumpkin carries a quiet autumn sweetness. Together? They symbolize harmony in diversity.

And here’s where it gets real: I actually prefer sweet potato over pumpkin. (Don’t judge me!) But someone else might prefer the reverse. And that’s okay. The table still works. The meal still serves its purpose. The fellowship remains intact.

See, that’s the lesson: life’s joy and peace don’t require everything to be your exact preference. They require openness. They require seeing the beauty in what’s placed before you, whether it’s cornbread, pumpkin, or a combination that wasn’t your first choice.

When we can approach life like that — blending differences, finding gratitude in the mix, and celebrating the gathering — we mature. We grow. We experience that deep peace that only comes from acceptance and joy.

So today, I’m letting this cornbread-and-pumpkin state of mind remind me: Peace is often found in the combinations we don’t expect but deeply need.

What are your “cornbread and pumpkin” moments?

Smiles R Contagious | #Learnedman