It was a festive time of year. Signs of life were all around her. The hillsides were green from the latter rains. She breathed deeply of the fragrance of the blossoming trees, and her heart beat with anticipation of the events about to take place.

It was the season of Pesach, and people from near and far were gathering at Jerusalem to commemorate the night that God “Pei-Samekh-Cheit,” or “passed over” the homes of the Jews who had placed the blood of the lamb over their doorways to spare the life of their firstborn.

The night of the feast was still a few days away, but she had already begun to make preparations to remove any trace of chametz from her humble dwelling. Yeast or any kind of leaven was to occupy no place in her life during this festival. Moses had instructed the Jews to prepare the Pesach bread in haste, without leaven, as they were about to make a quick and massive exodus from Egypt. Over the years, the removal of chametz held great spiritual significance, indicating the removal of puffiness, arrogance, and pride. It was a fitting symbol for her humble life.

Alone amidst the throngs of people, she was a widow. Her husband, the only son of his father’s household, died before she was able to bare any children.

As she approached the temple, the sound of children’s voices echoed from its walls. They were singing and shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” She ventured inside the courts and was amazed to see the children waving palm branches, their feet dancing across the temple floor. In their midst was a gentle figure. A small child nestled in His arms. She recognized the man. It was Jesus.

Taken in by the festive atmosphere and moved by the presence of this gentle teacher, she found herself wanting to join the children with total abandonment.

Just then, she heard amidst the sounds of joy, the rumblings of discontent. The rulers of the temple mingled about the gathering crowd expressing their objections to such display. “The feet of these children are desecrating the temple. Their shouts show a lack of reverence for this place.”

Feelings of misplaced guilt began to grow amidst the erroneous teachings of her past, but one look into the loving eyes of Jesus made them disappear. She took delight in the joyful expressions on the faces of the children, and somehow their outbursts of praise and the unrestrained energy in their feet seemed a fitting gesture for this extraordinary man.

The frustrated rulers gained no response from the people. Amidst the shouts of joy, the leaders now raised their voices and appealed directly to Jesus. “Do you hear what these children are saying?”

With a smile on his face He replied, “Yes.”

He paused just long enough for their faces to reveal their shock at His frank response.

“Have you not read, ‘You have taught children and infants how to praise you'?"

She could see the frustration on the perplexed faces of the Pharisees. These masters of intimidation were in the presence of One who could not be intimidated. He appeared rather kingly at that moment.

Astonished and astounded, they left the temple area defeated.

Long since separated from her husband's estate by the schemes of these Jewish leaders, she wondered at their exchange with the Teacher. With the loss of her dear husband, she had turned to the Lord for her comfort. She had clung to His promise: "I will defend the fatherless and widows." She loved her Lord, who had given specific instructions to the people to set aside the tithe of their produce every three years to replenish the town's supply for the Levites, widows, aliens, and orphans; to leave the overlooked sheaf of grain in the field; to not beat the olive branches the second time, nor pick the grapes the second time so that she could gather for herself.

The leaders, taking advantage of her vulnerability, had appealed to her devotion, her generous, unselfish spirit, and her trust in God's faithfulness. Gaining her confidence, they convinced her that it was her duty to assign her property to religious service. The law stated that her vow as a widow was binding and irrevocable. Having complete control over her financial affairs, the leaders used her money for their own benefit. To hide their dishonesty and malice, they would often pray long prayers in public and wear tokens and symbols of their piety and devotion, leaving her and the rest of the people to believe that they were their spiritual superiors. They laid claim to titles of honor such as teacher, rabbi, and master implying that they should have control of the people's conscience and faith.

Though the circumstances of her generous donation had been rife with fraud, her motives were pure. She had rejoiced in her act of worship and had reaped Heaven's blessings.

As the setting sun cast its golden hue on the gleaming white marble, the temple began to clear. She made her way through the streets of Jerusalem to her little niche tucked away in the poorest part of the city. Her experience of worship that day generated a fresh desire to give an offering to the temple now made holy by the purifying presence of Jesus.

She searched for a gift and found just two mites, the smallest denomination of currency in the Jewish economy. She resolved in her heart that she would go without food in order to give her all.

After another lonely night's sleep, she made her way back to the temple. As she entered the court where the treasure chests were kept, there were many dressed in fine array who brought large sums of money and emptied their bags of gold and silver with pretentious display. She stood at the edge of the courtyard, hesitating to enter—not because she had second thoughts of giving her last pittance, but for fear of being discovered and ridiculed for her meager gift.

Mustering up what courage she had, she ventured forward only to shrink back into the safety of her obscurity. She looked down at the meager gift in her hand. What difference would her gift make in comparison to the riches she saw being emptied into the coffers? Finally, the longing in her heart to give overcame her fears. Seizing her opportunity, she quickly deposited her gift and turned to make her escape. As she looked up to make her way across the courtyard, her eyes met the eyes of Jesus. She sensed He had watched the entire episode. He called the attention of his disciples and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others. They only gave a small fraction of their abundance, but she has given all she had to live on.”

As she heard the words of commendation from the Savior's lips, her eyes began to fill with tears of joy. He understood and appreciated the motives of her heart. She had given in simple childlike faith, trusting in her Lord to supply all her needs as He promised. She had given out of love and devotion to the One who had been her comfort and companion in her solitude.

She left the temple that day with a joy that could not be contained. The Savior's words repeated in her mind, “She has given more than all the others,” not realizing the implications of His words. She had no idea that her humble gift, as small as it was, had produced funds in the Lord's treasury beyond measure. She had no idea that her simple act of faith encouraged me to give.

Gary Burns is the Lake Union Conference communication director.