Thought Picnic: Benefitting from the widow's might

The generosity of the widow’s mite

For the many times that I have heard and read the story of the widow’s mite in the Bible, I have been fascinated at the lessons we are asked to draw out of the observation. People were giving offerings to the temple out of the plenty they already had and that would go a long way for the operations of the temple when referenced from the perspective of the temple.

However, in terms of the individual, the giving could be out of duty, obligation, service, or purpose, this is apart from the mindset of the person giving happily or grudgingly, and then the part about generosity, but I am not here to offer an exegesis or hermeneutic comparison of the story apart from the observation that the widow had little, and she gave all she had.

The efficacity of the widow’s might

Trying something in the order of homophones, I suggest another qualification in the possession of a widow, the widow’s might, the power in the person and the circumstances of the widow to change things for the better in her situation and for others.

I have a friend that is a widow in Ireland, we talk every so often about ourselves, life, and a person dear to our hearts even if that person has no concept or idea in their selfish disposition of how much they are loved and considered. This person is both intelligent and capable but has had their productivity arrested by substance abuse that they believe helps the projection of the multiple personalities they desire to portray.

The widows that make a difference

Where professional help and counsel has attempted an intervention, this person believes that they know better as they work themselves to what we fear is ruinous destruction that presages tragedy. Yet, as we conversed, I advised we never give voice to our fears, but rather religiously commit to prayer and supplication for the deliverance of this person. I believe a widow’s heart is seen by God and blessings with favour along with answered prayers would be her testimony.

There is also the widow’s might in selfless giving another like a mother with whom I have regular conversations who bestows love and care with concern for my welfare that I appreciate more and more. There again, in the widow’s might are those who have made extremely generous provisions to my needs, in a time of adversity and infirmity.

God bless the widow’s mite and might

My gratitude is deep and cannot be fully expressed, as they have been my support and strength, my rock and caring shoulder, and most of all, my love. For they have provided sustenance for the days that the storehouse was barren and hold my hand from day to day with encouragement and hope. 

There are times when the widow’s mite is the widow’s might to keep your chin up and know that the circumstances of the present will pass for the prosperity that looms quite presently.

May the grace and blessings of God abide with the many widows who with mite and might have given to my bosom.

The gospel of the widow's mite

There she was ready for ridicule

Taking a picture this afternoon of a woman conservatively dressed almost looking destitute made me wonder about the tendency to ridicule people.

Our deep-seated prejudices surface as expressions of curiosity revealing a visage of disdain that would almost draw approval from any passer-by.

She had a message which through programming, teaching and indoctrination – say faith – one may not ridicule – Jesus Saves – albeit in German; a message that has been about for over 2 millennia but which many fail to make relevant to themselves, their lives, their societies or their communities.

Looking at her, I did wonder how her presentation of the message would attract anyone on a day that attracted all the finery and celebration of gaiety and the debauched.

Not a time for asceticism

People were out in literally thread-bare clothes soaking in the sun and having a joyous time, definitely not a time to consider asceticism.

Then I remembered those Christian tracts that encouraged you into the embracing arms of Jesus Christ, well, I meant to say, terrified you horribly by making you the leading player of a sketch that had you burning in hell.

As you read the tract and break out in cold sweat with just enough strength to pray save me, you realise that you are dusting off the ashes from your singed eyebrows in an ashes to ashes act which had already been said of you in the presence of the devil from whom you have just run for dear life.

Rewards so different

In any case, the woman in her small way did not have the trappings of opulence nor the ostentation of jewellery that exemplifies modern day apostles in doing her part for the gospel.

No exhibitions of wealth untold that they would not be eligible for the streets of gold if many had their say in the final reckoning.

However, like Jesus said of the widow [Source - Lesson of the widow's mite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia] who had the least but gave it all as opposed to those who had a lot and only gave of what they have, the gospel’s methods of reward are far more advanced than the performance metrics any HR department can aspire to for objectivity.

The KPIs [Source - Key performance indicator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia] might just make her worthy of more because of her sincerity, dedication and purposefulness than stadium filling evangelists who have to do logistics before the gospel.

And so all I can say to the lady is keep up the work, it might well be good too.