Widow's Lunch

“Grief never ends, but it changes. It’s a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith. It is the price of love.”

There is the thread which ties you together here today. The loss of your husband. For some it was long ago, for others just a short time ago. For all of you, I imagine it sometimes seems both. Times when it was like yesterday and others when it seems like so much time has already passed.

One of Jesus’ most powerful lessons on trusting in God was told with the widow as the focus. People were gathering in the temple for worship. It was a time the men of the culture had gotten accustomed to showing off their prosperity. The would strut by the place where the tithes were gathered and make a big deal about how much they were puttin in. Then a widow walked by and unceremoniously dropped in two mites. A paltry tithe by most standards. But Jesus points her out to the ones around him and states she gave more than all the others. They were astonished. Jesus lets them know the others all gave out of their excess but she gave her all. And giving her all meant she didn't trust in her stockpile or ability or even good fortune to meet her needs. She trusted in God. Otherwise Jesus wouldnt have pointed it out.

There are a several OT scriptures and some NT reminding us of God’s opinion of the widow. You are valued by Him and He has instructed us, the church, to value you as well. I know many of you are surrounded by family who love and support you in many ways. But this family, your church family, wants to be a support to you as well.

I will be up front with you tho. I am going to ask something of you as well. Not today. Next time we meet I’ll be ready to ask you to do something for this church family as well.