The widow's mite.

JOYPEACE

I, too have a story about the widow's mite. For the last 18 years, I have been a public health nurse in my county. About 17 years ago, I was caring for an elderly poor widow. At Christmas time, I turned her name into the adopt-a-family program. She was chosen by a local church. They delivered clothes, food and personal items. She saved all of the presents and opened them in my presence on December 24. This was her Christmas and she was sharing it with me because I had turned in her name. She also gave me a card with a brand new $5 bill inside. I knew she didn't have this kind of money. She told me that she saved quarters all year long and walked downtown about two miles one way to trade them in at the bank for the $5. She was so pleased she could do this for me. I knew she would be so offended if I refused. I took the money and left her home. I drove about four blocks away and pulled over and cried for the next 15 minutes. I had taken the widow's mite. It was all she had and she gave it to me so willingly. She抯 been deceased for several years now. I will never forget her. I still have the card and the $5.00 bill. I just can抰 spend it. It seems wrong somehow. Mary Ann Riensche Jesup, Iowa