Memory Mites

I just found out that In Other Words has a new home site. Amy's "In Pursuit of Proverbs 31" site will be the new In Other Words home so be sure to check it out! As usual, a different blogger will host the IOW blog each week as we share our thoughts on the quote of the week.


This week's quote is:

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on." ~ Mark 12:41-44 ~

Funny, how we look at things so differently than the Lord. My mother was a quiet woman. I never really knew about how she felt about things because her generation along with her conservative Mennonite background taught her to keep her inner thoughts to herself. She NEVER showed her discontentment, flaws or neediness. Really, she never allowed others to see any part of her inner self.

I remember commenting to her one time about the wonder of God's creation that one infinitesimal sperm out of thousands of possibilities fertilized the one egg that made me and God knew it would happen - He knew all about me before I was ever even conceived. I was sooooo impressed at the largeness of the God I had come to love.

Of course, that comment coming from a 16 year old embarrassed my conservative mom to death! She blushed furiously and abruptly changed the subject. At the time I felt hurt by her reaction because I had so many questions about life that I needed her to answer, but she closed herself to me.

According to my daughters and some other young women I know, my mom would have been considered "relationally poor" because of her handicapped ability to share the inner workings of her heart. It always bothered me because I wanted - needed to know more of her heart. I wanted to hear her say how proud she was of my accomplishments. I craved the compliments - "You are special. You did well. Etc." After I grew up, I wanted her to be my best friend, sharing the child rearing process and advice with me, but she remained closed.

But as I greeted people at her recent funeral, I began to see a whole different side of my mom. I saw a woman whose unassuming life had touched others in so many different ways - by her quiet charity, her thoughtful deeds.

One by one, they came and told me things about her I never knew - how she ministered to this one and gave to another. My heart swelled as I realized how pleasing her life must have been to God. Even though she lacked the relational skills to talk about what was in her heart, she showed it to others and in turn, the Lord was showing it to me.

Mom was very much like Mark's widow who put two mites in the offering. She gave all of her heart that she was able to give - though it never felt like enough - but Christ took it and used it to bless others and me through her life.
Lord, thank you for sharing these "mites" from my mother;s heart. Help me to give all that I am and have to You to touch others.

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