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The Parable of

THE WIDOW’S MITES

Mark 12:  41-44

     Harriet lived on a meager Social Security income, but at least her tiny house was paid off.  Although she was left without children or money, she was not without means.  With Harry gone, she was left with a lot of time on her hands. 

     She made quilts for every new baby she knew of. 

     She babysat anytime for free. 

     She visited everyone in the local hospital every Sunday after church. 

     She created homemade birthday cards for people at the convalescent hospital. 

     She wrote letters to pen pals she never even met. 

     At Christmas time, she crafted homemade ornaments and mailed them out…. anonymously.

     She squeaked by on a careful budget for herself, and whatever was left over at the end of the month went into her penny jar, which she used for other people’s needs.

     She worried what she would do when she became too feeble to help people anymore.  As it turned out, she didn’t have to worry about that, because God called her back right before then.

     At her funeral, the church was packed wall-to-wall with people; there were well over a thousand in attendance.  Yet, that was only one-tenth of the number of the angels that carried her home.

THE WIDOW’S MITES   (Mark 12:41-44)

     “Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury.  And many who were rich put in much.  Then one poor widow came in and threw in two mites (a fraction of a penny). So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”