Another Widow’s Mite by E. M. Graham

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 18, 1913

Another Widow’s Mite

By E. M. Graham

The following interesting incident is reported to us by Mrs. Geo. L. Sterling:—

“Papa is a poor widow whose husband has been dead for several years. She lives on Aitutaki, Cook Islands, in a house covered with corrugated iron, both roof and sides, which leaks badly when it rains, and is very hot when the sun shines down upon it. She is a sickly woman in her old age, having frequent attacks of elephantiasis; but she has a kind heart, and is always willing to lend a hand to any one in time of need. She has three adopted children,—Pipi, about fifteen years of age, Edward, about eight years, and baby Ruth. By this you will better understand her circumstances.

“She came down here to cook food this Friday morning, the family here being busy packing oranges. I went back to the cook-house where she was preparing some green bananas to cook, and that was where we had our conversation.

“It was decided that the men among our converts here should each give two cases of oranges, to be shipped by the steamer to Auckland to be sold for our church fund. Papa heard about this, and she with her three children, after talking it over, went to the bush where the orange-trees grow and picked a box of oranges to be sold for the benefit of this same fund. One of the native brethren criticized her, saying that this work was for the heads of families; she was a poor widow and ought not to have part in it. She said that it was for the church, and it was God’s work, and she did not want to be left out. She said that her whole heart was in this work. She remembers the time when she kept the true Sabbath of God. When the Sabbath was changed throughout these islands, she followed the others in keeping Sunday; but when God’s servants came teaching the truth and keeping the seventh-day Sabbath, she was one of the first to obey. She said that the greatest desire of her heart was to see this third angel’s message grow.

“Some time ago she received eleven shillings. Four she gave to her daughter Pipi, and four shillings to Edward, leaving three shillings for herself. She said she did not want to be selfish and spend it upon herself, but that something within her said, Give it to the Lord, put it in the church fund. She spoke of it to one or two of the other Sabbath-keepers, but they rather discouraged her, because she was poor; but she said this only made the desire stronger. Immediately she went to her house, took the money from her box, and brought it all to Mr. Sterling to apply on the church fund. She said that as long as she had two dresses, one for work and one for church, she had sufficient, and that she was not seeking the things of this world, which will perish with it. I told her that the Lord would surely bless her for her love for his work. I repeated the words in Ps. 37 : 25: ‘I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.’”

It is impossible to read of this poor widow’s love for the cause of God and her willingness to sacrifice for it, without wondering if we who have so many privileges love the Lord as she does. We say we do, and perhaps think we do, but after all, it is our actions that tell whether we do or not. There are other Sabbath-keepers just as faithful and self-sacrificing as this widow; but if all were so, this work would very soon be finished. Brethren and sisters, I long to enter my eternal home, and I believe you do, too; but we can never do so until we unite in working for it, for there is a world to be warned first, and much of this work still remains to be done. Shall we not arise, shake off our love of ease, and make the final earnest, united effort that is needed to finish the work? E. M. Graham.