Stone Soup

How many of you have ever heard "The Story of Stone Soup?" For some reason as I watch the news coverage about the devastating earthquake in Haiti and hear them talk about how they have no food and water I am reminded of this story. I think about what the people of Haiti must be going through at this very moment and I quietly say a prayer to God to watch over them. I ask Him to bring to them the necessary food, water and medical supplies that they so desperately need. I also ask for guidance as to how I can help. My heart breaks for all of the little children that have now become orphans, the ones that are still lost and the ones that have died. I wish that I could be there to hold as many of them as I can to give them comfort and hope for a better future. Yesterday God put something on my heart. What if we came together and made Stone Soup. I know you are asking how this will help. Please read on and you will soon see what God has spoken to me.

The Story of Stone Soup takes place in post-war Eastern Europe, there was a great famine in which people we hoarding any food that they could find keeping it from all of their friends and neighbors. One day a soldier came into the village looking as if he needed a place to stay. He was told that there was no food at all in the province and that he should just keep moving on. He told the Villagers that he had everything he needed. In fact, he was thinking of making some stone soup and he would share it with them. With that he opened a velvet bag and dropped a stone into the water he had begun to boil.

Hearing the rumor of food, most of the villagers had come to the square to watch. As the soldier began to "sniff" the broth and lick his lips in anticipations, hunger began to overcome their skepticism.

Then the soldier said to the villagers, "I do like a tasty stone soup. Of course, stone soup with cabbage--that's hard to beat."

Soon a villager approached hesitantly, holding a cabbage he had taken from hi hiding place, and added it to the pot. Then the soldier said, "You know, I once had stone soup with cabbage and a bit of salt beef as well.

The village butcher managed to find some salt beef and so it went in. As other villagers began to add potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms and so on, there was a delicious meal for all. The villagers offered the soldier a great deal of money for the magic stone, but he refused to sell and left the next day. The moral to this story is that by working together, with everyone contributing what they can, a greater good is achieved.

I once read a quote that said, "In every community there is work to be done. In every nation there are wounds to heal. In every heart there is the power to do so." What if we could heal the wounds of the Haitian people by making Stone Soup as a community of believers. We can organize this through our places of worship or our neighborhoods. We can set aside an evening or an afternoon where everyone comes and contributes something to the soup. At that time we can also ask for a monetary donation that we could then send to an organization such as the Red Cross or Franklin Grahams' Samaritan Purse.

I have attached a recipe for Stone Soup to help to get us started. Hopefully those reading this will take this to their neighbors or their Pastor and begin cooking.

Stone Soup

1 stone, big enough that it won't get lost in the soup
1 tbsp. butter or vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, trimmed and chopped fine
1 large carrot, cut into coins
3 medium red potatoes (unpeeled, and cut into halves)
1/2 sweet red pepper, chopped
1 large clove garlic, pressed
6 cups of chicken broth (or a combination of broth and water)
1 medium zucchini, diced large
1 medium yellow squash, diced large
1/2 cup frozen corn
2 cups ditalini, or other soup pasta (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan cheese
Croutons

The first step is to thoroughly wash your stone. Drop it into the water to boil while the rest of the soup is being prepared.

In another large pot, melt the butter or oil, then saute the onion for 2-4 minutes. Stir in the celery, carrots, potatoes, and red pepper, sauteing for 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for about 30 seconds, then add the broth. Using a spoon, fish the stone out of the other pot, add it to the soup and bring to a boil. Add the zucchini, squash, corn and pasta, cooking for another 8 minutes or until the zucchini is the desired softness. Season with salt and pepper. before serving, sprinkle on the cheese and croutons, then ladle, minus the stone, into bowls. This recipe serves 6 to 8 people as it is written. You can add many for ingredients to this soup such as sausage, broccoli, fresh green beans, etc.

I hope you enjoy the soup. Please let me know the results.

Have a blessed day.