Moses & his wife, Susan, were shaken from their sleep by the frightening sound of galloping KKK-type night riders. It was during the Civil War and Moses wanted to protect his property, a young slave girl and her sickly baby boy. But he was too late. The night riders kidnapped the girl & her baby boy and sold them. Moses hired a friend to buy back the boy for a race horse valued at $300, a pretty high sum for the time. Moses got the boy back but was unable to locate his mother. The boy never saw his mother again.
The boy’s name was George and he accepted Jesus into his heart at about 10 years old. Thru his teenage years, George possessed an insatiable desire to learn. His 1st attempt at learning in a one room schoolhouse was thwarted when the teacher found out he was black and refused to teach him. He later left Moses’ home to attend a school for colored people. He attended a school in Kansas while working odd jobs to get his high school diploma before moving further west. He was accepted at a college but rejected when they found out he was black. But he drew strength from the Lord and was finally accepted at another college. He graduated in 1886 with a Master’s degree in Botany. He later worked with Booker T. Washington at the Tuskegee Institute for blacks where he stayed for the rest of his life.
After the Civil War, the southern economy was devastated. Cotton had been their big crop but it left the land nutritionally depleted. George suggested they plant peanuts and sweet potatoes to rejuvenate the soil. But there wasn’t much of a market for these two crops.
So he went to God and asked, “Dear Mr. Creator, please tell me what the universe was made for?” God said “You want to know too much for that little mind of yours. Ask for something more your size, little man.”
Then I asked, “Please Mr. Creator, tell me what man was made for?” Again God replied, “You are still asking too much. Cut down on the extent and improve the intent.”
Then I asked, “Please Mr. Creator, will you tell me why the peanut was made?” God said, “That’s better, but even then it’s infinite. What do you want to know about the peanut?” I asked, “Mr. Creator, can I make milk out of the peanut?” God said, “What kind of milk do you want? Good Jersey milk or just plain boarding house milk?” I replied, “Good Jersey milk.”
And then the Creator taught me to take the peanut apart and put it together again. And out of the process have come forth all these products.
God answered him and over the next few years he discovered over 300 products that could use peanuts like lard, mayonnaise, cheese, shampoo, instant coffee, flour, soap, face powder, plastics, adhesives, axle grease & pickles. He also discovered over 100 products that could use sweet potatoes like, starch, library paste, vinegar, shoe…
The great scientist and compassionate human being was….George Washington Carver.
When lauded for his contribution to his race, he said, “I am only God’s helper…I am certain He has not had in mind any particular race, but the needs of all humanity.”
His favorite bible verses were Proverbs 3:5,6 (Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight) and Philippians 4:13 (I can do everything thru Him who gives me strength).
What do you think of him?
Website references:
https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/church-history-for-kids/george-washington-carver-perseverance-and-resourcefulness-11635040.html
https://www.christiantoday.com/article/god-just-came-into-my-heart-one-afternoon-the-extraordinary-life-of-george-washington-carver/103618.htm
http://www.cslewisinstitute.org/George_Washington_Carver_FullArticle
https://regententrepreneur.org/rceresources/george-washington-carver-his-life-and-faith-in-his-own-words/
With you on the journey,
Dave Maynard
https://bsssb-llc.com
