She is like a ship from a faraway place.
She brings home food from everywhere.
She wakes up early in the morning,
cooks food for her family, and gives the servants their share.
She does not worry about her family when it snows.
She has given them all good, warm clothes.(Proverbs 31:14,15; 21 ERV)
Thank you for the kind words from those who were helped by my Saturday posts about stocking a deep pantry (a few emergency preparedness items). It really is true that anything you can do to prepare for difficult times will make a huge difference when you do go through a storm, winter weather, job loss, etc.
I've noticed something interesting in decades of researching emergency preparedness in many forms. There is often a difference between websites, blogs, etc. on the subject written by men and those written by women.
While there is often an overlap in what is being taught and recommended, those articles written by women tend to be more about taking care of their family and friends rather than just survival. Men often concentrate on subjects like building stuff, hunting, and protecting their families. Women usually focus more on subjects relating to food, clothing, gardening, etc.
I think that is the way God made us. I understand there are circumstances when men and women have to do both or one is better at a task than the other. I knew a woman who was a better deer hunter than the men in her family. I think most of us have known men who do most of the cooking. So, there are exceptions, of course.
I hear from women quite often who have said they started deepening the pantry because they "felt a burden" from God to do so. Many started gardening for the first time and researching other ways of preparedness. I am in awe of blog friends who do gardening and canning! I just read about a family who do not have the land for a big garden so they decided to purchase food from local farmers to can and freeze.
I don't think I have ever heard from God more clearly than when I was praying about shutting down this blog and He let me know that I was to continue. Especially in encouraging people to deepen their pantry and be more prepared for what the uncertainties of our world today. A worldwide pandemic was not even on my radar!
I know there are those who will scoff, especially people who do not believe we can hear from God today. Remember when Mike Pence made a statement that he heard from God on an issue, a well known woman who makes a living talking to (and about) people said that is mental illness. I learned long ago that those who do not know the Lord cannot comprehend His truths. I'm feeling that nudge to keep as deep pantry as I can afford and basic preparations more so than ever.
I'm mostly in a maintenance and topping off the pantry stage now. I have already gone through the deep freeze and reorganized items there. Last week I checked Use By dates on various mixes and a couple other items used for baking. I had a few that needed to be used in the next few months that I gave to my daughter-in-law for their family since I don't do as much baking as I once did.
Just because we cannot do everything does not mean we should do nothing in the way of being prepared.
Just because we can no longer garden, does not mean we cannot deepen our pantry. Just because we do not have a fireplace or generator, does not mean we cannot have other ways of keeping warm in winter should it be necessary. I am always looking for ways to do more preparations on a budget.
Just because one cannot purchase a generator does not mean we cannot have good battery operated lanterns on hand, flashlights, oil lamps, lantern oil, and battery operated radios to keep us informed. Even one of each will make a difference and they are all relatively inexpensive now. In an emergency, they may be impossible to purchase at any price.
Food prepared for long term storage has become very expensive, although the prices are not as outrageous as they were during the COVID shutdowns here. However, most flour, sugar, canned and frozen foods are still reasonably priced. I'm not sure how long that will continue since there have been massive crop failures due to the extreme winter weather we had recently.
God would not give any of us that nudge to prepare if He didn't provide a way for us to do so. It is always amazing to me what can be accomplished a little at a time. Life is never perfect and none of us can do everything that we would like but if we have a reasonable plan, then it gives us a goal to work toward. We never finish but keep going toward that goal. That is the stuff of life!
Mentioned in this Blog Post
Proverbs 31- I used to read this chapter in the Bible so often when I was younger that my Bible would open up to it when I picked it up. Much like it does with Psalms 23 now. This chapter gives one goals for a lifetime, not for one year! It is still a favorite, even as a grandmother.
Image: Fresh Bread; Artist: Loren Entz
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