Tears of despair trickled down her
careworn cheeks as she gazed out the darkened window. Day and night the Evil One is demanding that I let him have the boys.
But how can? They are precious to me! Mentally she looked around her bleak
surroundings, and groaned deeply .Now that my husband Lawe, has died, I have
nothing to offer to keep them out of the creditors clutches. I have no talents,
not charm, no money"—
“Nothing?”
The barely audible voice stilled her troubled soul.
“Yea, Lord, I have nothing…”
“What have I given thee?”
“What have I given thee?”
She paused, thought a
moment, before bowing her head. Thou
anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.
“Thy Spirit, oh Lord.”
“I have filled thy vessel
with the fragrant oil of my Spirit. But you must share it, my child.”
“But how can I? I have no
talents.”
“Take thy vessel of oil
and have thy sons gather empty vessels from all thy neighbours. Reach out my
child, and you will see how many accessible containers are all around thee. One
needs the oil of kindness, another prayer for healing for their broken heart,
Old Sarai needs a little oil to light her lamps with joy, and so on. Hast thou offered the oil of forgiveness to
thy neighbour who hath wronged thee?”
“Nay, my Lord.”
“Then start there.”
“But what about my boys?”
“But what about my boys?”
“When they see you pouring
forth thy oil of love, they will be blessed also, and neither thou, nor thy
sons shall be in want.
“Is it that easy?”
“Rise, my love,” He said
taking her by the hand. “Give and it shall be given unto thee, pressed down,
shaken together and running over.”
Her
head had been buried in her hands, but when she looked up her Councilor was gone
and the first wide bands of sunrise were lightening the sky.
“Arise,
my sons,” she called. “The Lord hath spoken to me. If we do as he hath
commanded he will make a way.”
Does
this story sound familiar? You can find the original in ll Kings Chapter four.
It’s one of my favorites.
W
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