How Much is Two Mites? - Christian Poem | Robert Wayne Atkins, P.E.

How Much is Two Mites?
Copyright © March 29, 2004
by Robert Wayne Atkins, P.E.
All Rights Reserved.

I have sweated and I have worked hard all day.
And here in my hand I now have my pay.

I see two small Roman coins with rough edges.
Each of the little coins is called one mite.

I am so very hungry. Two mites will buy enough
flour so I can bake a four-inch round loaf of bread.

I am just a lonely old widow and I have survived
for years on the generosity of friends and strangers.

It is a rare thing for me to get any kind of work.
And to earn two mites is a small fortune in my eyes.

My clothes look like rags and I am ashamed to
be seen in public. I dare not go to the temple.

But it has been so long since I have had anything to
give to God that it breaks my heart and at night I cry.

A mite is our smallest coin so I can't give a tenth.
But I could give one of them and that would be half.

But it is still so very little that I would be ashamed.
I must give both of my mites to my Lord and my God.

I sneak into the Temple and I carefully move
from shadow to shadow to avoid being seen.

When I think no one is looking I quickly drop my
two mites into the offering chest and then I flee.

But Jesus sees. And Jesus understands.
And in His Book the deed is recorded for eternity.

Reference Scripture Verses
Mark 12:41-44 - Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything -- all she had to live on."

Luke 21:1-4 - As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

Grandpappy's e-mail address is: RobertWayneAtkins@hotmail.com