George Washington Carver, whose research won him international fame, was an African American born to slave parents. “A week after his birth, George was kidnapped along with his sister and mother from the Carver farm by raiders from the neighboring state of Arkansas. The three were sold in Kentucky, and among them only the infant George was located by an agent of Moses Carver and returned to Missouri.”²

Someone claimed that when growing up, George had a lot of faith, and when he was still young, prayed: “Lord, tell me all about the universe.”

But God said, “George, that’s a tall order. Why don’t you pray for something more your size?”

So George said, “All right, Lord, tell me all about the peanut.”

God answered him and George discovered more than three hundred uses for the peanut—ranging from salad oil to soap.”

Greater still, George overcame his humble beginnings to discover the miracles in his life.

Whether this story about George’s prayer is real or just an allegory, it is an excellent parable for each of us to stop and evaluate our life, and ask ourselves if we have discovered the “miracle” in our life that God has planned for each of us, and to become the person he envisioned us to be.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank You that You have a wonderful miracle-purpose for my life, and will or have already given me all that I need to achieve this miracle. Please help me to see what that ‘miracle’ is, and give me the courage and help to do all that I need to do to fulfill this God-given life purpose miracle. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 9:29 (NKJV).

2. See also: http://www.biography.com/people/george-washington-carver-9240299.