Good evening, my last blog was on November 13th, so life and its events are moving right along. I trust that those of us who celebrated Thanksgiving were filled with gratitude that we will carry throughout the rest of our lives. Let’s keep our focus on the blessings and how we can be used to bless others.

Now I’m hoping the title of this blog has got you curious. If it has, then it has served its purpose. I will tell you of an event in which God used beans and ham for a supernatural blessing.

Our previous home was in a subdivision where most homes sat on several acres of land on the outskirts of town. There is a creek that runs through the area, and the land is heavily wooded and hilly. If you are familiar with NW Arkansas, then you know the beautiful landscape.

Soon after moving to our home of 26 years, I discovered that we had an extremely “different” kind of neighbor. He lived in a tiny one-room shack built from tree limbs on his property just across the creek from our place. He had no running water, no toilet, sink, or bathtub, no heat, no food storage, and wore clothes and shoes until they looked like they could literally fall off of him. He bathed in the creek a couple of times in the summer (whether he needed it or not) 😊.

The first time I saw him, I was on a walk by myself, and I must admit, I wasn’t sure whether running or standing my ground was my best option. I did neither. I kept walking and looking straight forward as if he wasn’t there, all the while trying to steal glimpses that I hoped wouldn’t be noticed by him. The closer he got as we were walking on the same road, but in opposite directions, the scarier he looked. He was the kind of guy that my Dad and Mom had always cautioned me about, and the reason my husband had encouraged me not to walk alone. There I was walking alone regardless. My desire for fresh air and exercise frequently overpowers solid advice.

But an odd thing happened. Although all of these factors were racing through my thoughts and emotions, as he passed by, I decided to look him in the eye and say, “Good morning.” He continued to walk while replying, “Good morning to you also”. We broke the ice, as some would say. I felt a sense of safety and calmness that surrounded me.

Through the years of following some sound advice, getting to know my neighbors, and adopting a large dog, I walked regularly. This different kind of neighbor (his name is David, the same as my husband) and I would have conversations that exposed a man who lived solely on his piece of land in his tiny hand-hewn shack that was barely standing, by nature’s medicinal plants, and the generosity of others. Mostly, the ever-present grace and mercy of God was, as he said, more than enough. I found that he was an educated man who had a wife and family until one day it all came undone. Afterward, he knew the Word of God and believed that the Lord told him to live on his land in total reliance on Him. He had been there for 20 years at that time and had no plans to leave unless God told him to.

 He never asked us for anything except the time he asked our son for assistance (yes, he, some others in our family, and community members got to know him and care for him as well). He needed help piecing together some dollar bills he had discovered that had been stashed away. Being exposed to the elements for a lengthy time, they had deteriorated to the point of falling apart. Our son took them to the bank, got assistance matching serial numbers on the bills, and the man had enough money to pay his property taxes, which were a significant amount! By the grace of God.

I thought maybe he could have gone to the creek, caught a fish with coins in its mouth to pay the taxes, as Jesus had His disciples do. But God is so creative that He had another avenue to perform His miracle, and our son was a trusted key player needed to make it happen.

Those roadside visits with my extremely “different” kind of neighbor held valuable lessons and opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus for those who would listen and obey His voice. One of the most important things I heard the Lord say is, “Remember how John the Baptist was described? This man loves me as John does, and I will use his obedience to this difficult lifestyle as an example to people like you”. That word from the Lord prepared me for beans and ham. 😊

I grew up in the south with a mother who was not only an outstanding cook, but also knew how to stretch the dollar. Beans and ham were a way to feed a large family on a tight budget, and we had them fairly often. To this day, my husband and I find this meal a real pleasure as it brings back fond memories of both our families. Yes, we are fortunate to have ham in our beans most of the time, but it isn’t all about the food, right?

So on one extremely cold January night, we indulged in this tummy-warming Southern-style meal. As I was cleaning the kitchen afterwards, a thought popped into my head, “David (the different kind of neighbor) would sure like some of this food.” At first, I thought that it was getting very late to offer food. Then the thought was repeated, “David would sure like some of this food.” My next thought was that he had probably already eaten and was buried in his sleeping bag for warmth. The third time with the same thought, “David would sure like some of this food.”  I knew it was the Lord speaking to me, but I attempted to reason with Him. My puny response was that my husband, David, would not let me go out into the woods in the dark in bitter cold to offer food to a man who was probably battened down to survive the night.

 Well, the Lord wasn’t interested in my excuses, as you can imagine. So, I decided that obedience was the better choice, whether it made sense or not. With the matter settled between the Lord and me, the next step was to convince my husband. I proceeded to explain, blow by blow, my conversation with the Lord and how my mind was made up that food would be delivered to our neighbor that night. Because the Lord had gone before me, it didn’t take much explaining on my part. David went along with the idea of taking food, but not with me being the one to deliver it. He willingly volunteered to take the food himself and hoped not to frighten or irritate him for dragging him out on this bitter night. So, I thankfully agreed, packed the food, along with numerous other goodies, and rode with him.

Surprisingly, David (husband) said, “Wait here in the car and call for help if I don’t return.” I didn’t believe for one second that he was kidding! That was a clear indication that he wasn’t certain this was a good idea. I, on the other hand, was certain because I had heard from the Lord. It was settled that we were safe.

As the story goes, David went into the woods up the hill with our sack of food in one hand and his trusty flashlight in the other. He was calling out to David as he made his way into the dark. By the time David reached the shack, our neighbor David stepped out calling out, “Is that you, David?” He welcomed him with open arms and with increased delight when David presented the food. He told him that Reba thought that “he might like some of this food.” His response was “I haven’t eaten in three days”. He thought he had heard the Lord tell him that night that Rita was bringing him food, but now he knew the Lord had said Reba, not Rita. He also said that when he saw the light coming up the hill, he thought it was an angel. Then he realized it was David doing the angel’s work. And oh, by the way, it just so happens that David (neighbor) also loves beans and ham, cornbread, fried potatoes, and all the other goodies I sent. Although we know that after three days without food, anything would have delighted him.

With all of that said, since that event, beans and ham bring back not only fond family memories but remembrance of the blessings of listening to the Holy Spirit and being obedient, even when it doesn’t seem reasonable. I wonder how many shied away from John the Baptist and missed the most incredible blessing of their lives.

Now it is my goal to continue listening, without lame excuses or trying to rationalize with the Holy Spirit, and step out in obedience. I get to see Him use the simple things like a hot meal for someone whom He knew needed it and had anticipated God providing, just by using Reba, not Rita. And of course, David doing the angel’s work. We, like our son, got to be trusted key players in making it happen.😊

How about you?

Sincerely,

Reba