March 1, 2025, is National Peanut Butter Lover's Day (not to be confused with National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day, on April 2). In celebration, you want to include some of the following festivities: eating peanut butter (obviously), making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, trying some new peanut butter combinations with apples or fried peaches- getting creative with ingredients like banana slices, honey, or chocolate chips, topping a stir fry with peanut butter sauce, or (my favorite) hosting an Elvis Presley peanut butter-themed party with peanut butter, banana, and bacon sandwiches!

Often misrepresented as its inventor, George Washington Carver is credited with popularizing peanut butter in America. As a student of piano and art, he went on to head the Agriculture Department at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University), teaching there for 47 years. As an agricultural scientist and inventor, he promoted alternative crops to cotton and methods to prevent soil depletion. His desire was for poor farmers to grow other crops, like peanuts and sweet potatoes, as their food source and improve their quality of life. As one of the most prominent scientists of the early 20th century, he is famous for multiple patents for cosmetics, paints, and stains, as well as the author of How to Grow the Peanut and 105 Ways of Preparing it For Human Consumption.

Carver believed he could have faith in God and science and integrated them into his life. He testified on many occasions that his faith in Jesus was the only mechanism by which he could effectively pursue and perform the art of science. He became a Christian as a young boy, writing the following concerning his conversion:

“I was just a mere boy when converted, hardly ten years old. There isn't much of a story to it. God just came into my heart one afternoon while I was alone in the 'loft' of our big barn while I was shelling corn to carry to the mill to be ground into meal.

A dear little white boy, one of our neighbors, about my age came by one Saturday morning, and in talking and playing he told me he was going to Sunday school tomorrow morning. I was eager to know what a Sunday school was. He said they sang hymns and prayed. I asked him what prayer was and what they said. I do not remember what he said; only remember that as soon as he left I climbed up into the 'loft,' knelt down by the barrel of corn and prayed as best I could. I do not remember what I said. I only recall that I felt so good that I prayed several times before I quit.

My brother and myself were the only colored children in that neighborhood and of course, we could not go to church or Sunday school, or school of any kind.

That was my simple conversion, and I have tried to keep the faith.”

— G. W. Carver; Letter to Isabelle Coleman; July 24, 1931

As a person with dietary restrictions, I have become both a fan and a heavy consumer of peanut butter. It is a staple that is readily available, needs no refrigeration, and is a great source of protein. This March, when you take a big spoonful of peanut butter, and God allows it to nourish your body for His glory, take the time to share your conversion story and a short biography on Dr. Carver with everyone you meet!

James