Please don’t wait until it’s too late

by Sister Leah Muhammad

As-Salaamu Alaikum!

I’m not trying to scare anybody. I just need to say what’s been sitting on my spirit.

We are walking into a hard stretch. For some, it’s already here. Food costs too much. Meds are harder to get. And the folks that get paid the big bucks? They’re arguing, pointing fingers, and doing a whole lot of nothing to help everyday people. We can’t wait on them.

So I’m asking, please, start putting things back. Store food. Store water. Store medicine. Even if you have to slide it under your bed or stack it in a closet. You don’t need a basement bunker to be prepared. You just need to care enough to start.

One can at a time. One bag of beans. One box of bandages. A little at a time becomes a lot.

Simple Emergency Prep Checklist

Start with what you can. Store it under the bed, in closets, even behind towels if you have to. Every little bit helps.

• Water (bottled or stored safely in jugs or containers)
• Red beans, black beans, navy beans (dry or canned)
• Rice, oats, pasta, flour
• Canned vegetables and fruit
• Canned meat, tuna, or shelf-stable protein
• Peanut butter or nut butters
• Crackers or shelf-stable bread
• Salt, sugar, seasonings
• Cooking oil or shelf-stable fats (like shortening)
• Pain relievers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin)
• Allergy meds (antihistamines)
• Alcohol, peroxide, antiseptic wipes, cheap vodka (not to drink)
• Bandages, gauze, tape
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Manual can opener, with jar opener
• Basic hygiene: soap, toothpaste, pads, toilet paper
• Copies of ID, insurance cards, emergency numbers
• Printed instructions for anything important (medical care, recipes, contacts)
• A calm mind and a plan to help others if you’re able

You don’t have to panic. But please don’t wait. Nobody’s coming to rescue us if things get tight. And it will. That’s not fear talking. That’s experience and love.

God gives us signs. We feel it. We see it. This is your sign to move. Quietly. Steadily. For yourself. For your children. For the ones who might not listen until it’s too late.

If you don’t know where to start, ask. I’ll help if I can. I’m not better than anyone, just trying to live smart and remind others to do the same.

Please. Take care now so you’re not caught off guard later.

With care,
Sister Leah