Thank God For the Grease

She, out of her poverty, gave all that she had

 (Mark 12:44)

The couple with their two young children had recently arrived on the mission field in Papua New Guinea when this verse came to life for them in a very unique experience.  Not yet having learned the native language, they were able to converse only with those natives who knew Pidgin English, the trade language.  Later, the wife related their experience this way:

“It was a beautiful, sunny morning as we headed down the road to the native market to buy fruits and vegetables.  As we rounded the last corner, we saw the women sitting beside the road, their wares stacked in piles before them.  We made our way all the way down the row, looking at the variety, shaking hands and saying ‘Morning’ to the crowds of children and adults who followed us as we went.  Native talk was all around us.

By the time we had made our purchases of corn, bananas, peanuts, and kaukau (sweet potatoes), the plastic bags we had brought with us were bulging.  Everyone was watching when suddenly an old woman broke from the crowd, rushed up and grabbed the bags of out of my husband’s hand and began to walk away.  Stunned for a moment, he followed and tried to recover the bags, but she refused.  The natives laughed. We were confused.

Finally one of the men came up to us and explained in pidgin that she would watch our purchases while we finished shopping.  Embarrassed, we walked on, wondering if we would ever see the bags again.  Could we even recognize her in such a crowd?

After making a final purchase of sugar cane, we looked around and there she was, smiling a toothless grin, and proceeding to stuff our food into her string bag!  Now what were we going to do!  Then a voice from the crowd, again in pidgin, explained that she was planning to carry it home for us.  Somewhat at a loss, unable to communicate with her, our red-faced family headed home.

Upon arrival, with the help of a young native friend, we thanked her as we searched our minds for a way to show our appreciation.  I thought of a tin we had with a small amount of shortening in it.  It seemed so little but when I offered it to her, she took it, then began to yell and jabber in her native tongue! Now what?  Had I offended her?  We had no idea until our native friend explained.

The old woman was a Christian from a local congregation of believers.  Just that morning, before heading to the roadside market, she had asked God for some grease to make bread for her family.  When she saw us there, she knew we were the new missionaries, and wanted to help us.  All she could think to do was to carry our bags which she did.

The shortening, a small token of our appreciation, was God’s answer to her prayer.  Her shouts were joyful praises to Him for His provision.  What had at first seemed an embarrassing situation brought joy to her and a new friendship to us.”

God works in myriad ways to faithfully care for His children.  He takes even the little that we do for others and increases it to meet the needs of those who trust Him. What a marvelous, loving, caring Father we serve! No small thing done for our great God is ever a small thing.

                             Lord, keep us in an attitude of service to You,
                             that we will use whatever we have Your loving will to do.
                             Even things we have on hand may be the things You’ll use
                             to meet the needs of someone else in ways that You will choose.
                             Nothing is too small or great, for placed within Your hand,
                             it all becomes a special part of Your loving, caring plan.