JOURNAL=6-6-15=THE POOR WIDOW

JOURNAL=6-6-15=THE POOR WIDOW “She-from her poverty-has CONTRIBUTED all she had-her whole livelihood” Mark 12:44 HOW LARGE of heart do you have? Are you PREPARED to give all that you have-all that you are to God? WE are to GIVE till it hurts The widow in today's gospel lived her life from-THIS LARGENESS of heart-she was giving ALL that she had-She gave-NOT from her abundance or her surplus-she GAVE what she had-because she wanted to SHE took to heart-what our SAVIOR did-what our savior gave-EVERYTHING-down to his very last breath-WHAT could be MORE HONORABLE than living a life like CHRIST-giving ALL that we have for OUR ADOPTED FATHER-and our BROTHER Jesus CHRIST “LIVING IS GIVING and giving is living-WHEN should we stop giving to GOD (and others)-when the Lord STOPS giving to us”-which theoretically is NEVER-for each and every one of our BREADTHS come from God-down to our very last breadth-for life itself is A GIFT FROM GOD it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in God's LOVE for us-and a great day for living LIKE the POOR WIDOW-from a largeness of our heart 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 Saint Paul tells us 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 6-6-15