AT ONE time, Mr. Grant and his family were living on one of the plantations of British Guiana. They had been living on rice and fruits, the only meat they were able to get being salt-fish. Mrs. Grant’s health began to fail, and Mr. Grant became much disturbed over this. He thought she had not sufficient nourishment, and she should have some fresh meat, but how to get it for her, he did not know. There were some Chinamen planting rice across the river, for whom he had done some work. He went to them and begged them to sell him some fresh meat, but they either could not, or would not. So he went home again and sat down feeling troubled as he thought over matters. While thus in deep thought, something within him seemed to say, Arise. He arose and went ten or fifteen rods from the house, and there he saw a pigeon in the road. He rustled the grass, but strange to say, the bird did not move. Then something said, “It is yours.” He went up to it, and it made no effort to get away. He picked it up, and carried it in to his wife. When she had killed and cleaned it, Mr. Grant saw there was not enough for the house, so he said to himself, “My wife shall have it.” While thinking thus, a pigeon, or bird of the same kind as the one killed, flew in at the open window and lighted near him. He easily secured it—then said to his wife, “God has sent it. God supplied the need of the people in the wilderness, and He sees our need, and now He has supplied it.”
They killed and prepared this bird, and there was enough to supply the family of five. They ate with very grateful hearts, and the wife was helped in body through this loving provision from the heavenly Father.
Mr. Grant now says, “Since God has brought me out of darkness, and shown me His marvelous light, every day I see His hand in a wonderful way. The world sees nothing of His hand, but we who look for it, see it, and receive directly from Him.”
Let me say to my Christian reader. It is very blessed to trace God’s hand in His dealings with us, and if we look for it we will surely find it. He may not send pigeons to us as ‘He did to Mr. Grant, but He will meet our needs, and that in a very loving and gracious, if not a wonderful way.
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.” Nahum. 1:7.
ML 11/27/1904