It is Enough

I have always loved the story of the Widow's mite. It is the story of many rich men bringing of their wealth to contribute to the treasury. My understanding is that they were basically paying their tithing. As Christ and the Apostles watched, a poor widow arrived, and cast in her two mites. While there is some argument about how much that would equal in today's economy, the point is that it was a very small amount. Then the miracle happened. Our beloved Savior declared, "Of a truth, I say unto you that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had."

The Websters 1828 dictionary defines Penury as "Want of property; indigence; extreme poverty." So
in her "extreme poverty," she cast in all the living that she had. 

This story has always reminded me that it doesn't matter how much or how little tithing I have to offer. What matters is that I give. 

But this time, reading of the widow's mite, I realized a huge part I've been missing - this story is not about tithing! Yes, that is included, but it is referring to any offering. As I realized this, I began to weep. My offering is sufficient.

On the days when we find out we are moving and only have two weeks to pack everything we own. On the days when we end up in Urgent Care with a baby who has a fever of 104.9 that won't go down. On the days when my sweetie comes home to a messy house and no dinner. In the moments when I wake in the middle of the night only to hear our little one crying in pain or fear, and I have so little strength to help him. On the days that driving, or even getting out of bed is more than my anxiety can handle, or my depression has me in the depths of despair "because" I never vacuum, or "because" my sweetie had to make dinner again. In the moments when I am the "worst person in the world" because I forgot to visit teach that month or don't know why baby is crying. In all of these days and moments when what I have to offer couldn't possibly be enough....

It is enough.

The Lord doesn't ask us to offer enough money to build a temple, or a church, or even the podium single handedly. And he doesn't expect us to offer "enough" in our lives and emotions either. We need to offer what we have, even in our penury of spirit and weakness of body and heart. Even when we can't give enough...

It is enough.

You are enough. What you have to offer is enough. Your gifts and talents are enough. Your virtues and strengths are enough. Everything that you have to give, whether you are "wealthy" or "poor" in this season of life. It is all enough.

It is enough because the Lord makes all the difference.