Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Making Ends Meet (01/16/14)
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TITLE: The Jar and the Jug | Previous Challenge Entry
By Andrea Van Ye
01/23/14 -
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She glanced over at the young boy, sleeping on the cot next to her bed. The fire in the stone stove had long grown cold, allowing the chill of the early morning air to fill the room.
Strapping on her sandals, she threw the worn, but warm shawl, over her shoulders, dreading the day. She tried to do the best she could for her and her son, but it wasn’t enough. She wasn’t enough.
Out of work, out of money, and almost out of food, now, she was out of hope. All she possessed was a little bit of flour in a jar and a little bit of oil in a jug. It was a small amount to make a meager meal for her and her son. It would be their last supper.
The door squeaked sharply, despite her attempts to leave the house silently. Lonely and despairing, she set out to find wood to make their final fire.
One by one, she gathered small sticks in to the fold of her apron.
Rather unexpectedly, out of the corner of her eye, she caught the rugged silhouette of a man. He walked slowly towards her.
“Please bring me some water in a jar, so I may have a drink,” he beckoned.
She gazed at him and wondered to herself, “Why today? Couldn’t he see that she was poor? Did she have to help someone else when she herself was so weary and worn?”
Something in her stirred, quietly.
“Yes, sir, I’ll bring you water. Wait right here.”
“And one more thing? Could you also get me a piece of bread? “
Dropping her sticks, she pleaded with the man.
“Sir! I don’t have any bread. All I have is a little flour in a jar and little oil in a jug. At this very moment, I was gathering sticks to make a fire for our last loaf!”
“Do not be afraid. Go home and make a small loaf for me and bring it to me, then return and make something for you and your son. For the Lord has spoken these words of hope. ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land’” (1 Kings 16:14 NIV).
Something stirred in her, again. In her heart she knew she had to do what was right. She had to trust the Lord to make ends meet. Even if it didn’t make sense.
She went home and did as the man asked. That night, after eating the last loaf with her son, she placed the jar and the jug on the shelf. Crawling in to bed, half holding her breath, she tried to settle and trust the Lord.
As morning came, the widow opened her eyes and slowly crawled out of bed.
“Am I crazy to even believe? Could that man be right? Would God be faithful to me?”
She reached for the jar and the jug. Was it her imagination or was it her hope? Did they both feel heavier?
She opened up both lids, and peered inside.
Both jar and jug, previously empty and dry, were now full.
She poured the contents in to the bowl, mixed up the loaf of bread, and sang words of praise. Not only did the Lord fill her jar and jug, but now He filled her heart with hope, again.
He, indeed, was the only One who could and did make ends meet.
And they had just what they needed, each and every day, in every way.
“For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah” (1 Kings 17:16 NIV).
(Adapted from the story of the Widow at Zarephath in 1 Kings 16)
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Well done. Thanks.
God bless~