I Prayed for Food

When our three children were small, my husband and I experienced an economic crisis while living in our small home in Mexico City, Mexico. We had done all we could, but we had run out of money—and there seemed to be no help available anywhere. One morning I fed the children the last of the food in the house for breakfast. There was not even a drop of oil with which I could cook them something for lunch. My husband left for work hoping to get at least enough money to buy food that day.

At mid-morning a neighbor lady knocked on the door and began to tell me about the approaching visit of her mother-in-law. She mentioned that she had prepared a big noon meal of chicken, rice, and many other delicious things. It was difficult to listen to her talk about so much food, but I told her nothing of our situation. Then she left in order to be home when her mother-in-law arrived.

I began to ask myself why I was being given this trial. What was I doing wrong? Then I realized that even if I were guilty of something, my children certainly were not! In prayer, exercising great faith, I humbly asked that Father in Heaven would help us find some food. After praying, I went about my work.

A short while later my neighbor returned and said that her plans had changed. Her guest would not be coming after all. Instead, the family would be accompanying the mother-in-law on a two-week vacation. But now my neighbor had a problem. What could she do with all the food she had prepared? A bit embarrassed, she asked me if I would be offended if she gave me the food.

The customs of our country would ordinarily prevent one from offering a gift of something that no longer had value to the giver. But I knew that this was the answer to my prayer! I told her not to worry, that I appreciated her offer very much! My neighbor was pleased that I would take the food and then asked, “Can I leave you the food in the refrigerator too? We’ll be gone so long that everything will go bad.”

My husband arrived home that day without having had success earning money. Nevertheless, we ate well, and our refrigerator was filled to capacity.