One morning in 1931, a poor Christian family awoke to the worst blizzard on record in their town in Michigan. Everything was paralyzed, and snow, almost two stories high, blown into drifts against the modest frame house by wind, darkened its windows.
The father, who as a young Christian had managed to escape severe religious persecution in Syria and immigrate to the U.S., put their last piece of coal in the fire. His wife warmed the last 8 oz. of milk for their baby boy. There was no more food, no more fuel, no money for supplies, and no way to get out.
“What will we do, Dad?” came the frightened voice of their 6-year-old son who had just awakened.
“Why, we’ll have our devotions” was the reply.
“But we don’t have anything to eat, Daddy,” came the tearful reply.
“Son, we have God who loves us and we can trust Him to care for us.”
After reading the Bible together, the four knelt while father prayed. He thanked the Lord for their house, the blankets and beds they had to keep warm in, and prayed for those without adequate shelter.
“And if it please Thee,” he continued, “send us some fuel. Also, Thou knowest that we have no food except the milk for baby Thomas. If it would be pleasing to Thee... ”
The sudden, loud banging at their back door did not interrupt or hurry his prayers. When finished the father went to the door and opened it to allow a bundled stranger to enter their back porch.
Standing in the midst of a pile of snow that had blown in, the father politely asked, “Can I help you?”
“We live on a farm outside of town. Four years ago I heard you preach at a gospel meeting and I was saved. This morning at 4 o’clock I couldn’t sleep, and I couldn’t get you out of my mind. It seemed like the Lord was telling me to come over here. But our truck is stuck in the snow, so I had to hitch the horses to our sled and come over that way.”
The stranger hesitated, and though they had no breakfast to offer him, the father invited him to come into the warmth of their kitchen. To his surprise, however, the farmer turned and went outside to the sled. Picking up a large box he carried it back inside.
“This is for you,” he said.
Opening the lid, to their astonishment, they found it packed with milk, eggs, butter, pork chops, grain, homemade bread and a large quantity of other food!
While the family, with tears of joy, wondered at the unexpected gift, the farmer went back to his sled and began carrying a cord of wood to the porch.
Soon after, the family was sitting with their kind benefactor enjoying a hearty breakfast. Then came the abundant answer to the father’s prayers. As he left, the farmer placed $10 in his hand a very generous sum during those difficult depression days.
Ed.