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Topic: REDUCE (11/05/15)
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TITLE: A Widow For All Seasons | Previous Challenge Entry
By Grace Teoxon
11/12/15 -
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“Lord, it was difficult enough to make ends meet with two income, what more now with my husband dead.”
Do you remember the widow who cried out to Elisha the Prophet? “Sir my husband is dead. A creditor threatened to take my sons as slaves to pay off his debt. What will happen to my sons and to me?”
Financial ruin seemed to be the fate of many widows and orphans, often left without resources. The only thing of value in the household of the widow of old (ninth century) was a little olive oil, a precious commodity because of its many uses. Today’s widow, despite a reduced income, had more resources to show.
Both had the responsibility to be father and mother. But for Susie, the latter widow – four boys with ages ranging from 9-15, a sister, and aged parents - was a whale of a burden. How would she cope with a teacher’s salary?
Surrendering their needs to God, He multiplied what they had. Both widows became entrepreneurs – she with her jars of oil while Susie sold insurance policies and fruit juices. The widow of old had enough money to provide a good future for her sons and for her old age. For Susie, it was still an ongoing journey.
“Mom, may I join my friends for a movie and snack after?
“Mom, I need a new pair of pants for the party.”
To the older boys, her classic answer was -“you work for it;” to the younger ones, “sorry, it’s not in the budget;” her heart bled.
Washing, Susie noticed how dirty the socks were of one of the boys. Pulling out his shoes, she found a big hole in one shoe which he padded over with carton. Her heart almost broke but she could not… would not… break down - not with seven lives dependent on her!
One day, she confessed. “Sometimes I got so tired but there was no one to take over.”
God heard. He sent people who helped her sell; a male friend regularly took out the boys; and her church supplied monthly a sack of rice. When church members sang, “How I loved you with the love of the Lord,” the words came alive as when hands clasped, money was passed along.
Her humor was inviting which made her classes a favorite among students; neither was it lost among her family members. She loved to cook and experiment with reduced ingredients; sometimes, even totally replaced.
“Hey, come on,” the eldest son called out, “Spaghetti… Mom, how come this looked so yellow?”
As soon as asked, his face lighted up, “I knew it, you used those noodles often cooked with sardines.”
Sputtering, he said, “this is not spaghetti, this is sphagedon,” coining the word from the locals’ “odong,” a poor man’s noodles. They laughed, apparently, at how they coped with their much –reduced financial state.
Without an overflowing plate but a spirit-filled heart, Susie held bible sessions once a month with her co-teachers; and some company employees during their lunch break. The time came when she owed the bank for house payments. She needed to sell fast; to raise tuition money. Many prayed for months…over a year passed; everybody got desperate.
Mid-noon one day, Susie was drifting off to sleep. Her sister came in - said a guy was asking about the house. Sleepy, she said, “tell him to come back later.”
At about 2pm, Susie went out...startled to find a guy waiting.
“Good afternoon Ma’am, I’m Mr. ________, and I’m your appointed buyer. “Whoa, that sounded strange. They agreed to meet at the bank come Monday.
Susie was there at the appointed time; the guy was not. She waited a few moments, shrugged her shoulders, and left. Later, he surfaced at her office - explained he had ensured with the bank that no more interest will be applied for that day. The sale went through. Friends squealed, danced, gave ‘high-fives.’
Who would think that a visiting lady would witness a prayer for a buyer for a house owned by Susie who shared the gospel to the employees? Moreover, be around to hear an inquiry about a house for sale in the city she visited.
Clearly, the hand of God was in the events – turning in His appointed time!
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Story of today’s widow: Non-fiction; name changed
References:
Elisha and the Widow’s Oil: 2 Kings 4:1-7
https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-3-widows-oil-when-bad-things-happen-good-people
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