The other day, as I browsed through my mail, I came across the Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPC) Newsletter. A group picture of smiling women, clad in bright orange suits, caught my attention.
“Nurses?” I pondered. Nope.
I began to read the article below the picture and realized that these women were actually inmates at Perryville Prison.
These ladies decided they wanted to do something for CPC. So they began crocheting booties and baby sweaters for the clients at the centers. At first, only a few knew how to knit or crochet, so they taught others who wanted to participate.
“They also saved up their 10 cents an hour wage to put toward a sizable $600 plus donation – that’s 6,000 hours!” says Cathryn Merring, Director of CPC Phoenix.
Talk about generosity!
It reminds me of the actions of a very poor, yet generous woman. Luke 21:1-3 says, “As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. I tell you the truth, he said, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Reading this passage always brings tears to my eyes. (Yes, I cry easily, but you get the idea.) I picture the old lady humbly waiting in line for her turn to offer her contribution; then, I see her reaching out with her wrinkled, shaky hand to drop the two small coins. Last, I picture her walking quietly back home, without being noticed, without anyone ever knowing the depths of her contribution and sacrifice.
But Jesus noticed.
In contrast to the women at Perryville, many times I feel like unless I do something “big” nothing I do for the Lord will really matter. But they’ve proven me wrong. Like Pastor Brian said this morning, “The Kingdom of God is about big things, but it’s also about small things.”
Mmmm… Maybe my “small contribution” isn’t as insignificant as I might think. Maybe one day my actions will impact others’ lives the way a modest group of inmates’ generous acts has impacted mine.
How do you feel about your own contribution?
That is a great story. Thanks for sharing it.
Buenísimo Anaclaudiux….. sigue compartiendo estas historias tan bonitas y edificantes!
Thank you for posting this story. I recently discovered my financial problems are a result of not fully trusting that God will provide for me and my famly. In this story it is VERY clear the old women had great faith in the Lord to give all she had. This story encourages me to be more giving and to trust God with all my heart.