The Mother's Mite

Today I share The Mother's MIte, the story of a modern woman blended with the Bible story of the Widow's Mite. Jesus can and will help in our darkest hour.

The Mother's Mite

The Mother’s Mite tells the short story of Sarah, a modern-day mother juggling a teething baby, sick children, laundry, dishes, work, and finances. Sarah feels spent, drained, alone, and empty.

One night her exhaustion turns to desperate pleas heavenward.

God's answer came to her in a dream where she met a man who saw into her heart and taught her a soul-stirring lesson as an old widow gave her last two mites.

#tamarakanderson #storiesofhopeinhardtimes #podcast #hope #God #hardtimes #biblestory #themothersmite #mothersday #gift #story #exhausted #wornout #lonely #worth #loved #understood

Transcription

Dedication

To every woman who has spent a sleepless night caring for a loved one. God loves us individually and knows we each have a nurturing, mother’s heart.

The Mother’s Mite

By Tamara K. Anderson

It was 2:34 a.m. and Sarah sat holding her screaming, teething baby, Ethan, in the rocking chair for what seemed like the hundredth time in the past two weeks. Physically, she was exhausted. She felt like a giant vacuum had sucked every ounce of energy out of her.

Emotionally she was spent as well. Her other two children had been sick and demanding the last few days, and Ethan’s constant crying took her exhaustion to a whole different level of weariness. She felt hollow. She felt numb.

Around her was a disaster zone of dirty dishes, scattered toys, unfolded laundry in the hamper, and a myriad of crumbs and crayons underfoot. She hadn’t even made it to the grocery store for several days, but finances were so tight right now. Could they even afford milk for the children’s breakfast in the morning? And she had barely started the editing job she was supposed to have finished by tomorrow.

Tears trailed down her cheeks as she kept rocking—trying to calm her teething infant, and maybe herself from the desperation overwhelming her.

Sarah had poured her heart out to the Lord all night, asking for help and guidance, but no answer came.

Her prayers, more frantic now than an hour ago, implored heaven for help, for relief. Dear God, I need help! Maybe I’m not doing enough to qualify for your help, but I am trying to pray and catch a verse of scripture daily. I don’t think I can take the exhaustion and crying any longer. I am so tired. Please, God, I need you! Help me!

Sarah’s tears now turned to sobs and she joined her baby, wailing into the darkness. No one could help her. Her husband was gone working the midnight shift, and any family that might be able to lend support lived far away. “I’m all alone, and no one can help me,” Sarah wept into the night.

As tears dripped from her jaw onto her worn t-shirt, Sarah regarded her situation. No one understands my weariness or how hard it is to push forward day after day with no time for myself. I feel so burned out with the constant demands of juggling housework, mothering, and work. There is simply more to do than I can even keep up with! With this thought the tears seemed to come at a faster pace.

After what seemed like an eternity, little Ethan’s fitful cries lessened and he finally succumbed to his exhaustion. A bone-weary tiredness depleted even the energy Sarah needed to keep rocking.

She lay her head against the back of the rocking chair and let sleep overcome her as well. Sarah dreamed.

***

Sarah was in a place she had never been—a bright, sunlit courtyard of sorts, which was lined by tall stone pillars reminiscent of a time long-ago. A scent of something cooking carried on the breeze, and the people were dressed in long robes. Rich and poor alike were dropping coins into metal containers. Some who were more finely dressed seemed to take their time, dropping each coin slowly and loudly so others would notice the plink each coin made.

As Sarah watched, an older woman approached from the shadows. She was stooped with age and made her way forward with halting steps. Sarah related to the weariness in her slow, shuffled steps. When she reached the container, the woman lifted her weathered hand, dropped two smaller coins into the container, and slowly limped away.

From somewhere behind her a man spoke. “This poor widow has cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury.”[1]

Sarah was struck by the tender tone in his words and turned to see the speaker. At first glance He looked like a working man or laborer, but there was something compelling about Him. His eyes met hers and He seemed to look into her very core, knowing and seeing everything in her exhausted mother’s soul. His piercing gaze conveyed a depth of love and understanding.

Keeping eye contact with her, He said, “For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want, did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”[2] It seemed as if He was speaking directly to her.

Tears filled Sarah’s eyes as He smiled at her. She then heard His same gentle voice in her mind and heart, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”[3]

Miraculously, love and warmth filled her empty soul to overflowing. This Man understood she had given her all and He loved her. Somehow by serving her children and others, she loved and served Him. Sarah’s anguish and exhaustion faded, replaced by peace. She felt whole.

***

“Ouch!” Sarah gasped as her head jerked up and hit the back of the rocking chair. She opened her eyes to darkness instead of light. Ethan shifted in her arms and she began slowly rocking again. Her feet brushed against carpet instead of stone. She was home.

Sarah’s mind whirled with questions and thoughts: Was that a dream? It felt so real, like I was really there. And that widow . . . that Man . . .

As she slowed her rocking to a stop, Sarah pondered. If it was a dream, why had it felt so authentic? And why was her parched soul now quenched with peace? Sarah’s drained feelings from moments before seemed to be blanketed with a warm feeling of love.

Sarah realized she knew that woman from her dream. She felt a sudden kinship to the widow from long-ago Jerusalem. She had heard the woman’s story but never realized how similar her own story was. That woman, like Sarah, had given her all, and no one noticed. And she, like the widow was worn, lonely, and invisible to everyone. Everyone that is, but Him.

Sarah knew that man. She knew His voice. It was Jesus Christ, and He noticed her. He knew her. He understood her.

Jesus had looked into her soul. He knew how tired she was chasing, comforting, feeding, teaching, serving, entertaining, bathing, loving, and nurturing children all day—plus rocking them all night. He knew her financial woes, and her frustrations with work and a messy home. Jesus also appreciated how hard she was trying to connect with Him each day. He knew her and saw her—just like He knew and saw the old widow giving her all with the last two mites. He perceived she had given her last mite of energy that night rocking Ethan, because He, too, gave everything.

Jesus knew, understood, and loved her.

Sarah recalled the Savior’s words about service. As she served and loved God’s children, she loved and served Him. He knew it, felt it, and loved her even more for her sacrifice.

Sarah’s eyes were now moist with tears of a different kind: tears of joy, tears of love, tears of peace.

Although still exhausted, she slowly rose and lay Ethan in his crib.

As she left his room, she was forever changed. Her entire perspective had shifted. She was no longer alone or invisible. She was no longer carrying her heavy load alone. Jesus was with her.

As Sarah collapsed into her bed, a silent prayer reached heavenward. Thank you, dear God! Thank you for hearing my prayer and being with me tonight. Thank you, Jesus, for seeing me, understanding me, and loving me. Thank you for sending peace, comfort, and strength when I was too tired to carry on. And thank you for teaching me that no act of service goes unnoticed, and that as I give of myself serving others, I’m serving you. I now see there is a bond between us. I’m still not strong enough to keep carrying this burden on my own, but maybe with your help, I can.

A smile touched her lips as she drifted off to sleep.

***

Affirmation (Say this aloud daily)

I am a daughter of God.

I am loved!

I am enough.

I am understood.

God is with me!

As I serve others, I serve Jesus Christ.

I call on Him for additional strength and support—even and especially in my most desperate hour.

He hears and answers perfectly in His own time and way.

[1] Mark 12:43

[2] Mark 12:44

[3] Matthew 25:40