30 cents

It was a small gesture, in the scope of all things. When national debts reach trillions of dollars, we can watch billionaires on prime time television series, and millionaires seem to be coming (pardon the expression) a dime a dozen, thirty cents isn’t all that much. It was really the situation that made all the difference.

I’ve known Elberta for a little more than five months now, and I am always happy to see her in worship. She’s one of the more lucid residents of the special care unit where I work, a place filled with people who have forgotten who they are because of strokes and alzheimers. They may have forgotten who they are…but, at least for now, some still remember whose they are. Elberta is one of those people who still comes to chapel, and who can read enough of the worship folder to follow along with evening prayer, saying the proper responses.

Elberta and some of the other residents often play bingo in the afternoon for dimes. Their winnings hardly ever surpass a couple of dollars. Elberta had won thirty cents that day. She was happy about her winnings, and she settled down into the ebb and flow of the evening prayer liturgy along with the others.

Afterwards, I thanked her for coming, like I always do. Elberta always returns the thanks, a smiling, “Thank you for coming!” This time, she added, “I want you to have this.” She held out her hand, and between her thumb and forefinger were three dimes, her earnings from the bingo game. “Thank you!” I said, not quite knowing what to do with thirty cents.

It didn’t strike me until later that I realized what this exactly meant. This was all she had. This woman had given me thirty cents. On the surface, I’d be lucky to buy much of anything with it. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like much from her...she has everything taken care of. She gets her food from the cafeteria, she has a bed to sleep in, she has nurses to take care of her. But her gift shows that she appreciates the God who it ultimately comes from, she appreciates the opportunity to worship Him, and so she gives everything she can for Him.