Giving our Mite

There are many touching stories in the Bible that give us hope that we can become all that God knows we can be. One of these is the story of the widow's mite. A faithful woman who had lost her husband and wasn't well off went to the Temple to give her offering to the Lord. Among the rich and privileged members of society, her offering of 2 mites seemed so minuscule. And yet when Christ saw her, He told His disciples, "That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 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." (Mark 12: 43-44). She didn't have anything to give, and yet she gave. She didn't measure up to the grandeur of the rich, and yet she went to stand before her God.

This story really isn't about the money she gave, but of the love she gave and the sacrifice she offered of herself. I look at the people that are in my life and I see that story exemplified in their lives. They seem to have so little, and yet they give so much. In my opinion, they aren't lacking anything and they are rich. And this is seen in the light that emanates from their spirits. When we give all we can to our Lord, we will fill our life with love and joy. Our Savior exhorted us to love our God with all our heart might mind and strength. When we do this, we feel His love magnified in our daily lives.

But how do we know if our offering is enough for the Lord? It's simple. He knows us personally and individually. He understands what we do and do not have, and He won't ask us to give Him something that we don't have to give. All we can do is all we can. Because of the Atonement, when we sacrifice and offer all that we have of who we are and what we have, our Savior will make up the rest. His grace will save us, and His tender mercies will strengthen us so we can continue to give our Father in Heaven all that we are able. And in us He will find joy.

We can do this with other things outside of our money. Spending time and giving it to the Lord is a huge sacrifice sometimes. But when we give our time to God in worship - prayer, temple attendance, and striving to keep our covenants - He will bless us. This doesn't mean we should neglect our other duties. Nurturing our families and developing our education and talents is just as important. We need to find a balance in our lives. In my experience, balance is best found when we give to the Lord first, our family next, and ourselves last. We can give to those around us and those that we love. Even when it seems to be only a mite, the offering is seen as mighty in heaven. Remember, the Lord promises us that out of small things will come that which is great.