I began searching a few days ago for this Wednesday's Woman. I came across many women of the bible. Women played a huge part in the Old and New Testament. Women still today play a huge part in our world. God uses women to do great and mighty things. In some countries and in some areas today even in our own United States, women are looked down upon. Women are made to feel less important. Have less value than a man. God did not intend for us to feel this way. He did not create man with more love or value than He did us. The only person that can make us feel any less of a person than another is ourselves. We each have a purpose and plan in this life. It is for us to search that plan and turn to the Lord for His will for our lives. When we give ourselves to Him, only greatness can follow. When we come to see that He created each of us uniquely and wove each of us with His hands we can only see beauty. God set in each of us something to fulfill. He wants us to stand with Him and live each day with a clear purpose.Today it is the widow that stands out for me. As I read and came across many women, she is the one I kept going back to. We find her story in Luke 21:1-4 "While Jesus was in the Temple, He watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in tow small coins. 'I tell you the truth,' Jesus said, 'This poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.'"
Mark 12:41-44 "Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on."
This woman gave all she had. She gave what she was going to live on. As others gave, did they give until it hurt as she did? They gave, but they gave what was comfortable for them to give. This poor woman didn't have much, but what she did have she gave willingly. This is a woman with heart. This is a woman with love. Jesus saw her heart through her giving. This woman was special. She already knew about loss. She lost her husband to death. It doesn't say how, or how long she had been widowed, or even how difficult her life had been. But it does say, poor and widow. Those are two words we pray we never have to feel, but this woman was not only poor, but widowed also. Can you see the scars from her pain? Even though she carried pain with her, through this story I feel as though she too carried a smile. She had the gift of giving. Maybe she didn't before. Maybe before loss hit her, she never gave more than she had to. Maybe this loss changed her. Circumstances change the way we look at things. Circumstances change our hearts. Maybe she too was changed forever by the great loss she bore. But we can see through this great loss, she also had great gain. She is compassionate as she gives. She knows need too well now. She knows the pain that comes with loss, and just maybe she feels as though if she gives she will bring comfort to another. She is a woman of faith. She is a woman who is serving the Lord by giving. I can see great beauty in her. Not only in her giving, but in her heart. Through one's giving, another receives much more than what is passed through hands. Through giving the one giving is blessed also. There is a connection when we give to another. It doesn't say she was concerned with what she would live in for the rest of the week. It doesn't say she was concerned about what she would eat or drink. This tells me she has great faith in the Lord. This tells me she believes and has great hope.
As Jesus watches her give, He calls His disciples over to tell them of this woman's gift. She is one we can all learn from. She gave until it hurt. She gave all she had and knew without a doubt the Lord would provide for her. One who has felt loss knows great pain. One who has nothing knows there is more to life than material wealth. This is a woman who knows it is not important what her wallet contains, but what she is willing to give.
We see a rich value in her giving. She gives with a willing heart. She is a willing vessel for the Lord. Her attitude speaks louder than words. She was not showing another that she was giving all she had. She did it quietly. But in that quiet giving, Jesus saw. He saw a woman with more heart than most. He saw a woman standing out. On this day this woman in her giving brought great glory and honor to the God she serves.
I want to give like this woman. I want to serve like her. She is a great example not only of giving, but of faith. She is wise. She has probably seen a lot during her lifetime. Again it doesn't tell us if she is older or younger. But either way, her life shows great wisdom. I can see the grace she wears humbly. I can see beauty in her hands. I can see a pure heart. Through one woman, God moved to touch others and to show us today it is not what we give, but how we give.
