category: Poetry

A Poem about the Widow’s Mite

By Rachael Keefe

Here’s a poem from my book, Negotiating the Shadows. It’s based on the Mark text for this week. A Widow’s Wisdom a simple offering outweighed all others combined two copper coins almost without value took on significance she gave to You all she had with intent others offered bits pieces of notable …

A Poem about the Widow’s Mite

Here’s a poem from my book, Negotiating the ShadowsIt’s based on the Mark text for this week.

A Widow’s Wisdom

a simple offering
outweighed all others

combined
two copper coins

almost without valuebusiness-72174
took on significance

she gave to You
all she had

with intent
others offered bits

pieces of notable
value

thinking they honor You
and themselves

giving what they will not miss
in abundance

they missed
abundantly

the widow’s gift
lies unseen today

many cling to little
in hopes of more

or less
fear of losing

everything of importance
but gaining nothing of value

Your words were simple
directed at your followers

then and now
witnesses to You

two worthless coins
mean everything

when there is nothing else
to give

true life requires giving
to You

in abundance
without fear of emptiness

with trust and gratitude
for You offer

life
abundant

where two small coins
have value

canoe_01and one poor woman
has purpose

and wisdom
blessing

any and all who see her
as You did

giving every little bit
for the possibility

You hold out
to any and all

who give You
two copper coins

(or everything we have
and everything we are)

RCL – Year B – Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost – November 8, 2015
Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17
Psalm 127
1 Kings 17:8-16
Psalm 146
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44

Photos from Pixabay. Used with permission.

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About Rachael Keefe

Rachael is an author, a pastor, a teacher, and a poet. Her latest book (The Lifesaving Church - Chalice Press) is on faith and suicide prevention. She is currently the pastor of Living Table UCC in Minneapolis, and has launched a spiritual direction practice.

4 thoughts on “A Poem about the Widow’s Mite”

  1. I love the simplicity in what you have written, and how it takes that little story in Mark and expands it to mean all it can mean. And, on and on the messages flow, and all we have to do is hear them….and follow them to hold that peace that transcends all (human) understanding. I pray to have the wisdom to know how I do this….as I struggle with the web that is holding me to the world I see, not my home.

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