Harriet and Friends

Do you wonder how formerly enslaved Harriet Tubman (approximately 1820-1913) was able to escape to freedom in 1849? Do you wonder how Harriet Tubman had the faith and courage to go back to slave holding states and repeatedly risk her life and freedom to help lead other enslaved people to freedom as well? Do you want to know more about the life of this tiny, five feet tall woman, who helped the United States of America become free of the institution of slavery?

Harriet Tubman had help from God and friends to complete the many tasks in her fight for the enslaved, women, the aged and indigent people. This literary work provides answers to these questions while weaving together different elements of Harriet Tubman's life of faith in God, courage, and teamwork during and after slavery ended in the United States of America. It is an American story of healing in the land.

While weaving together the story of Harriet Tubman and her friends during slavery and afterwards we uncover God's prep work prior to her escape to freedom. God uses awakening, revivals, and networks of like-minded people to shift views about slavery. Quakers, Methodists, and other abolitionist are networking together to befriend and help people running away from slavery by the time Harriet Tubman needs friends to help her escape slavery in Maryland. These friends help her reach the free state of Pennsylvania. Thus, she experiences personal freedom from enslavement in 1849.

The story highlights Harriet's desire to help others experience freedom too with the help of her network of friends in the Underground Railroad. Some of Harriet's abolitionists friends revealed in the story are Frederick Douglass, the Reverend John Brown, and Sojourner Truth. This factual story includes references to additional abolitionist friends or acquaintances that are also part of the network called the Underground Railroad. Her friends are freedmen, enslaved people, Union soldiers, or members of the AME Zion Church.

Read this inspiring short story to encourage you or someone that you know to do what God puts upon your heart to do. Harriet Tubman is an example of someone who would not allow sickness, lack of education, nor fear to keep her from fulfilling the call on her life. Instead, Harriet Tubman prayerfully does what she can, to be part of the solution, one event at a time, one day at a time until every task is complete. May this story encourage you to do the same as you see God's hand in the life of Harriet Tubman and her friends.

Let your imagination take you into the world of Harriet Tubman. May her dream for her people to be free inspire you to dream. May you dare to dream with God to improve the world around you too. May your focus be assisting one person at a time, starting with yourself. May you complete one task at a time, one day at a time, with the help of God and the friends He puts on your path.