An aged widow of many years had run out of sufficient resources and was forced to sell her home. After paying off her substantial debts, all she could afford and maintain on her meager income was a small shack at the edge of a large forest. There she lived in poverty for years.
One day she decided to take a walk in the forest, something she enjoyed as her only pastime considering her financial limitations. She carefully cobbled together a small sandwich from yesterday’s leftovers and placed it in her little handbag along with a couple plastic bottles of chilled water. She set out for her walk taking a pathway through her back yard that was lined with large maple trees. Leaves had begun to fall having already reached their vibrant red autumn color weeks before. They crunched under her feet as she made her way to the log bridge that would take her over the brook that wended its way through the forest.
As she approached the bridge, the sun shone brightly, it rays piecing the thinning canopy of branches above. The rays reaching the forest floor played its shadows into mystical shapes. When she reached the midpoint of the bridge, she stopped to glance down at the babbling waters below. Suddenly, a ray of sunshine struck an object on the floor of the brook reflecting magically through the water. So dramatic was this scene that she ran to the end of the bridge and scurried down to the brook’s edge. Kneeling and pulling up her sleeve, she reached down and grasped what she thought had captured the sunlight.
As she rose to her feet she slowly opened her hand, and stared hypnotically at a huge gemstone, its brilliant color and size overwhelming her. As she stood silently taking in what she had just discovered, she began to assess what it would mean and how it would change her life. Obviously it was of great value. She would never have to worry again if she would have enough to eat. With a sense of renewed hope and a joyful smile on her face, she carefully placed the gem in her bag. She returned to the trail and continued on her planned journey into the forest.
The autumn colors and seasonal aromas danced before her senses. The forest denizens scurried about making the most of their time collecting provisions for the coming winter. Squirrels and birds collected acorns and sundry nuts and berries, eating some on the run, burying others for future meals. The forest was alive with activity and the widow was thrilled to be an appreciative observer of God’s creation in action. A soft breeze rustled through the trees, causing a constant drift of colored leaves falling down from the heights to the floor below. Each leaf added to the multicolored mosaic carpeting the ground beneath her feet.
As the trail made a sharp turn around a large oak tree, she noticed a man lying against the trunk. He was aged and poorly dressed. His shoes were worn through in places. His long beard indicated he hadn’t shaved for months. He looked up at the widow with hopeless eyes and begged her for something to eat, saying he had not eaten for two days. If she could spare just a small morsel he would be eternally grateful.
The widow knelt beside him. She opened her bag and gave him the small sandwich she had made and the water bottles she had packed. He gratefully thanked her. After eating the sandwich and drinking some water, he regained some strength and offered again his appreciation for her kindness. But then he said that he had noticed a gem in her bag when she retrieved the sandwich and water. He asked if she would give that gem to him as well. Without hesitation, the widow dug into her bag and handed him the gem. He was astounded. And as she had done when she first found it, he stood silently taking in what she had just given him. He began to assess what it would mean and how it would change his life as it surely was of great value.
As he stood there in amazement, the widow rose to her feet, silently turned and continued down the trail. Then, the man came to his senses and called out to the woman, “Stop, please come back!”
The widow stopped, turned and went back to see what the man wanted. As she approached, he reached out with the gem in his hand.
“I am giving the gem back to you. But I ask that you give me in return something even more valuable than this precious priceless gem. That is, what it is that is in your heart that caused you to give it to me when I asked for it.”
The Turning Point
This story reminds us that graciousness is a powerful gift that when exercised has the ability to change lives. What we do speaks louder than what we say or what we give. When the Spirit of God is able to guide us, He leads us to be the blessing for pothers that God hopes we would become. Interesting to note is that when this widow awoke that day, she had not an inkling of what the day had in store for her. But her willing heart, sensitive to the urging of the Spirit made her a blessing for someone in need.
The turning point of this story for me was the revelation that the earth bound material we give is nothing when compared to the gift of leading someone to God, His righteousness, His grace and His love. The truth of the divine pronouncement, “Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and all these things will be given to you” rings true. I wonder, who will God’s Spirit lead me to tomorrow? Will I be ready to be a blessing He hopes I will be?
COPYRIGHT © 2014 ALLAN E. MUSTERER