These sweet friends have been behind me since I began my homesteading journey with chickens. They patiently answered my many questions and have been helpful with my few animal maladies. From the wooden floor boards to the friendly staff the whole place shouts of a time past when towns were smaller and people called each other by name. A time when service to the customer was an important part of everyday business. So hats off to my friends at Roach Feed and Seed. May you have many more years of brisk business! However this was more than a fun win, this was God’s promise and provision. You might be saying, “What does God have to do with this?” Stick around for a short story and I will tell you how.

The Story of God’s Promise and the Bitter Eggplant

Sometimes on the homestead there is too much month left at the end of the money. I not only have to look around for something to feed my animals out of my garden, but I have to rely on my garden to feed my kids. It just so happens that it is down to slim pickings in the garden right now. My Fall crops haven’t started producing yet and there is nothing left of the spring crops after the heat wave. So I got this great news about winning the contest on Monday night. On Tuesday morning, my good fortune forgotten, I woke with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach because I had very little to work with as far as food in the house. Instead of going right to My Father in Heaven in prayer, who loves me and wants to care for me, I went to tearful, anxious mode of how can I fix this myself. My garden immediately came to mind. When I got out to the garden there was one old eggplant still hanging on the bush.

It was puny so I had left it there to see if it would grow a bit more. I seized my puny eggplant, all the while the wheels turning in my mind on how I could turn this into lunch. When I got home I sliced it up, spread some questionable plain yogurt on the slices and dipped them in the last bit of shredded cheese. I baked it and promptly displayed it to my children, who were eyeing it with suspicion. They actually spit it out! I thought, “It can’t be that bad, right?”  Wrong! It was bitter and horrible. It burned in my throat for about 20 minutes! I finally went to My Father in prayer and in tears. When I stopped venting and calmed down he was able to remind me that my provision, His promise, was at the feed store in the form of a $ 50. gift card to Target.

Have you ever been so stressed and worried that you forgot God’s provision and ate the bitter eggplant? I have learned from this to get down on my knees in prayer first and listen.

I don’t want to miss the blessing. Our Father in Heaven loves me and He loves you and he wants to care for us and our families. We must go to Him and ask. We must have faith and trust God’s promise.  

O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.   

Blessings to you on this Sunday night, Dash

This post was shared on Simple Sundays Link Up; Walking in High Cotton