Woman's story shows riches of God's grace

The words of Jesus about treasure in heaven are well known.

He said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in nor steal, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21).

I have told this story before but I write about it again due to a reader request.

Her mother died when she was just 6, so she was raised by her mother’s sister and various other adults who walked in and out of her life. Her mother had died in childbirth and from then on this woman and her two siblings’ lives were unsettled and unsure.

Instead of a loving and a nurturing atmosphere that their mother had once provided, they now were shuffled from relatives to distant relatives who were gamblers, abusers and losers. But what could little children do to change their circumstances? They could do nothing but endure.

Years passed and by the hand of God, they survived. Life was hard. Never having enough to eat or wear, they managed to make it to young adulthood. One joined the military, one got married and the other went off to college.

While the one was at college, she married. Then an unexpected message came from home. The aunt who had raised them sent all three siblings a war bond that had been their uncle’s. Even though all the cousins had the same common grandmother, the other cousins inherited lands and houses but the three young motherless children were given one war bond each.

The inequity of the situation was overwhelming, but they were not surprised because it had always been that way since their mother died.

This young woman in college had married a young man who was headed for the ministry. So she decided the best thing she could do with her war bond was to cash it, buy a piano and learn to play hymns so she could help him in his work. After all, shouldn’t a minister’s wife be able to play the piano?

So she cashed in her war bond, bought a piano and began piano lessons. She made it her goal to learn as many hymns on the piano as she could.

Her husband preached at little country churches while she planned the song services for each one.

Times were hard. The young couple could barely make ends meet. They traveled long distances and gasoline money took a big part of the young pastor’s meager salary.

Five years after they were married, the couple found out she was expecting a baby. They were thrilled but knew the expense of the doctor and hospital was out of their budget and they had no extra money coming their way.

So the young mother had an idea: she decided to sell her piano that she had bought with war bond to pay for the doctor and hospital bills.

Years later, this mother related the story to her daughter. Time had put things into perspective.

She was not wealthy from inherited lands and house but the war bond had bought her a piano. The music she played inspired church parishioner after another. Her life through her music as a pastor’s wife touched the lives of many people through the years. Her daughter, whose hospital bill as a newborn was paid by the sale of the piano, grew to be a Christian woman who raised three beautiful Christian children. Then great grandchildren learned the ways of the Lord and the love of a Savior.

So the question must be asked: What was the focus of this woman’s life?

Peter Deison, author of “The Riches of God’s Grace,” addressed this very concept when he wrote: “ … when you search out the “treasures of heaven” — the riches of his grace — your capital, your resources, will cause your joy and Kingdom activity to soar.”

What better example of God’s riches of grace than that of a woman, a war bond and piano?

Judy Brandon writes about faith for The Eastern New Mexico News. Contact her at: [email protected]