Widow's Generosity

Out of her poverty, she put in all the living that she had.

We know the widow's offering was of monetary value, but how much more did she offer! Consider the work she did to earn those coins, the efforts to live within her means, to save, to overcome selfish desires so that she could put in all the living she had.

". . . [A]ll the living she had . . . ." Even more than coins, the widow's example is that of offering her entire being, her LIFE, her daily living to God. Also, I look at her, and I think what trust and faith she shows in God, a God Whom she loved so dearly to offer everything she had, and she must have done so trusting that He would also provide for her still, even after she just gave her everything in the offering. How beautiful is her love and trust in God! Like a child who gives everything and trusts without limits in her father, the widow holds nothing back.

I want to be like the widow. How I yearn for the depth of trust and love for my God, that I am so detached from my possessions and cares and lean entirely on Him to provide for my life. How I long to truly be able to lay my concerns, my plans, my hopes in His hands and really let go, and allow Him to lead me.

I want to be able to give all my living to my Father, my God, my Savior. All my living. Now, I can't leave everything and join a contemplative group of nuns, because that is not my call. However, I can offer every single moment of my day to God, I can ask Him to bless my efforts to love and serve my family. I can worship Him in my daily duties, yes even the diapers and dishes. By giving my best in all I do, I honor God and the life He has chosen for me. A woman's work, whether as a student, mother, retailer, writer, small business owner, can and should glorify God. We glorify God by giving Him our living. We glorify God by letting His love permeate our very being so that all we do is our best.

On a practical note, how do we, wives, sisters, mothers, working women, give all our living to God? I like to start with the Morning Offering. When I pray that, I offer “all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day . . . ” for all of the things. For the salvation of souls, the Holy Father’s intentions, the sufferings of those around me, the prayers of my family . . . literally, the Morning Offering helps me to give all that I am—all my living—back to Him.

Join me each morning, offering all that I have and all that I am and all that I do back to God.

“O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, the reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.”

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Gina Fensterer is a wife, daughter, mother, friend, homeschooling mama and Colorado native. You can find out more about her here.