SamyLynn, my eat your heart out, adorable, 3-yr-old daughter, adopted from India, comes running into the living room as excited as she can be.
"Mommy, I find-a money!" she holds out in her precious, brown hand a single penny. While in my mind the total value of a penny is one cent, in her mind the penny is invaluable and she could not be more happy with her treasure. To her, that penny is priceless!
I often feel like all I have to offer in this life is a single penny. With my AS I am extremely limited in what I am able to do and often bemoan my lot in life as even sitting through a cup of coffee or Bible study are out of the question. I feel helpless to the many volunteer opportunities that come along but I have to pass up on due to my limitations. I have created a mental "cannot" list that causes me heartache. I have convinced myself that others, out of a lack of understanding, look at me and see a pathetic woman who does nothing and never tries, which only increases my frustration. Mentally, I am lying on my worn out beach chair that I must drag around to socialize, holding in my hand a penny to God, with tears streaming down my face saying "I only wish it could be more!"
Luke 21:1-4
As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "Truly I tell you, "he said, "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. "
While the widow offers two copper coins, I offer a disease filled body. God never asks us to give more than we are able, He simply asks us to give ALL that we are able. If my body is only able to give one pennies worth (or two copper coins) than He will take it gratefully.
I wonder if the widow was embarrassed to put her offering in where it must have been clear for all to see? I struggle with such thoughts as I give my most; which for me often means pacing back and forth maniacally or lying in inconvenient places, and feeling eyes on me, judging, questioning and sometimes condemning. But we need not be ashamed, she and I, when we are giving our hearts out to the Lord, she with her coins and me on the church floor. We give what we are able, wholehearted surrender, worship and gifts to our King.
The worth of one penny is all in the eyes of the beholder, my friends! SamyLynn has it right! So don't be afraid to lift those pennies high in offering because God sees your heart, mind, body and resources and He knows what you have to give!!!
