She Gave From Her Heart

INTRO: This poem is about the Bible Story of the Woman and the Two Coins. Luke 21:1-4. This was another poem I wrote while a Prison Chaplain at the Women’s Correctional Centre in 2017. I wanted to tell this story to encourage the women in prison, that the Chaplains were a representation of God’s love for them. I have included other Bible verses that relate to charity and giving – Luke 20:45-47, Luke 21:1-4, Matthew 25, Deuteronomy 10:18, Psalm 82:3-4, 2 Corinthians 8:12-15, Exodus 16:18. I include a list of reference books, at the end of this poem, that I study on the subject prior to writing this poem. Most of my poems evolve from books that I have read or Bible passages that I have studied. Beverley Joy

PODCAST -She Gave From Her Heart

One day, Jesus was sitting in the temple teaching the people

He turned to his followers and said:

“Be careful of religious leaders

Who walk with heads held high

Wearing rich fancy clothing

That makes them look important.”

You see, people were forced to show them respect

They sat in front row seats

In the temple and at distinguished events

And said long loud prayers in public.

They cheated widows out of their money

Made them feel guilty and pressured

To give beyond what they can afford

Defenceless, vulnerable women.

Jesus looked up and saw those leaders

Give money so people could see them

Then he saw a poor widow drop in two copper coins

And slip away unnoticed.

Jesus said “This widow gave only two coins

But she has given God more

Then all those wealthy leaders

Who give only what they don’t need.”

Widows were very poor, the poorest class of all

Forced to give more than she could afford

Her money for food and shelter.

She gave a full day’s pay

Why did she give so much?

Why was she so poor

Yet, surrounded by such wealth?

Two coins were the smallest donation

Demanded by the rich leaders

Some of it would line their pockets

To pay for their life of excess.

But the widow gave her gift to God

In thanks for all that he had done

For her people throughout history

So, her gift was acceptable.

She gave money to help maintain

God’s temple where they could pray

For the temple had once been destroyed

For over one hundred years.

God had commanded religious leaders

Way back through Moses

To care for the widows, orphaned and poor

Within their community.

Remember Ruth a despised foreigner?

If Boaz had not offered her protection

She and Naomi would have died of starvation.

Now, what Jesus’ saw was no care at all

For widows, orphaned, sick and the poor

The leaders had not obeyed God’s Law

Passed down through Moses generations before.

Jesus said in Matthew 25:

“When I was hungry you gave me some food

When I was thirsty you gave me a drink

When I was a stranger, you invited me in

When I was naked you clothed me

When I was sick you visited me

When I was in prison you came to me.”

When Jesus was tired and thirsty

The divorced woman gave him a drink

When He was unwanted in his hometown

Mary and Martha fed and housed him.

Naked Jesus died, nailed to a cross

Two friends took him down and wrapped Him in cloth

They buried him in a donated tomb

They helped their friend Jesus as best they could.

Jesus said, “God will one day punish those leaders.”

Then, the temple was destroyed after 70 years

God’s love was revealed in the New Testament

Then, worldwide Christian charity spread.

Today, Christian charity flourishes

People give without expecting a return

Giving money or time or sharing what they can

To help someone less fortunate than themselves.

Read or listen to my poems of Women of the Bible: It Takes Two To Tango The Adulterous Woman of John 8:1-11, She Gave From Her Heart The Woman and the Two Coins Luke 21:1-4, Sweet Temptation Eve Genesis 3, Feast or Famine Ruth and I Am Ruth, ‘Thirst Quenching’ The Woman at the Well, Mary – The Christmas Story Part 2 Four Unusual Women, Part 4 Mary, The Christmas Story Part 5 Mary and Elizabeth, The Busyness Excuse Mary and Martha, Her Touch of Simple Faith The women with the bleeding issue,