Christian Indie Books founder, Carol Neelands, wrote a trilogy about her mother. These books are advertised on our site. She is currently writing another book about her mother and father, and their life together, in service to the Lord.

The story I am about to relate was not included in these books, but it is one I remember my grandmother, Susie Peters, telling us often this story that her mother told her.

Susie Peters was born in a Mennonite community in Siberia. Her mother’s family could not go to the grocery store and buy a bag of sugar. Instead, they grew watermelons and boiled the juice down into syrup. Susie’s mother loved the syrup, but she was not so keen on the work it involved.

One Spring day, she was charged with planting the watermelon seeds. She began well, planting the seeds in a straight row, but, being a child, she soon lost interest in her task and decided she would rather go play. She dug a hole and buried the remaining seeds.

Later, when the seeds sprouted, her sins found her out, and she was forced to confess what she had done. However, it was too late to plant more watermelon seeds, so the watermelon syrup would be in short supply that year.

On a recent trip to an Amish market, I purchased a jar of watermelon syrup. I had never actually tried this product, but I cannot use it without being reminded of the verse: “Be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23 KJV) Thanks Grandma, for grounding every story in the Word of God!