THE POOR WIDOW
A widow
Is a woman whose husband is dead
In ancient Israel
A husband’s death
Usually brought on poverty
And powerlessness
It is
Not any different today
In today’s world
Women routinely outlive their husbands
And sometimes this bring on
Poverty and powerlessness
My own mother
Outlived my father
By almost 10 years
And thank God
I was there
To walk every step of the way with her
As did-my two beautiful sisters
In his letter to Timothy:
“Give proper recognition
To those widows
Who are really in need
But if a widow has children or
grandchildren
These should learn first of all
To put their religion into practice
By caring for their own family
And so repaying their parents
and grandparents
For this is pleasing to God
The widow
Who is really in need
And left alone
Puts her hope in God
And continues night and day to pray
And to ask God for help”
1 Timothy:3-5
My own mom did this
I know
Because I walked every step of the journey
Through life with her
In Luke 21
Jesus teaches us a lesson about giving
It is NOT how much
Or what percentage of our pay
That we give
Because we know like JESUS
We are to give EVERY OUNCE of
ourselves
To God and others
Many people
Were putting large amounts of money
And putting their gifts into the Temple treasury
Jesus looked up and saw
A poor widow put in two small copper coins
And said:
“I tell you the truth
This poor widow
Has put in
More than all the others
All these people
Gave their gifts
Out of their wealth
But she out of her poverty
Put in ALL she had to live on”
Luke 21:1-4
My own mom
Told me once that 40 people
Lived with us
For 30 days or longer
I know
That this is true
And I know
That she NEVER asked for a dime
So I ask you
To always treat the poor widow ( and widower
)
With respect-love-and compassion
And to give
All that you have
AS AN OFFERING TO GOD
Robert P. Wallman
4-11-12
Ps With
grateful thanks to God, my parents, my sisters,
And
family and friends, and all who have helped me
On my
journey through this life
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