MORE ON PEANUTS

One of the faithful readers of this blog reminded me about George Washington Carver’s faith in God.  Hannah said Mr. Carver's faith is what she remembers most.  She recalled from her reading of his biography that Mr. Carver taught the farmers to plant peanuts to put new life in their fields depleted from years of cotton crops. When he was faced with all the angry farmers who suddenly had no market for their abundance of peanuts, he locked himself in his laboratory with peanuts - and cried out to God.  And God answered his prayers! 

Hannah also went to the trouble of looking up and sharing several passages with me that testify to his relationship with God.

"I lost all thoughts of time.  Finally I staggered from the lab.  One of the students who had been in the hallway earlier rushed to my side.

"'Dr. Carver - are you all right?  You've been working in there for six days and six nights.  Why wouldn't you answer the door?'

"I smiled, resting a weary arm on my friend's shoulder.  'We had much to do,' I answered...'

"'We?' the student asked, shaking his head.  'But you were alone in the lab, weren't you?'

"'Oh, no,' I replied.  'I was not alone for a moment.'"

 

Here is a quote from the book when Dr. Carver was explaining all the uses of the peanut to a committee of senators:

"One of the senators pointed his pencil at me.  'Where did you learn all this?'

"I answered simply. 'From a book.'

"'What book?' the senator shot back.

"I smiled.  'The Bible.  It says that God has given us everything for our use.  He has revealed to me some of the wonders of the fruit of His earth."

And I thought finding a biblical reference for "peanuts" would be difficult! Thank you, Hannah!

 

*The Sowers Series: George Washington Carver, by David Collins, 1981.