The Lord watches over the foreigner
    and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
Psalm 146:9

“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 19:9-10

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Since you are reading a devotional from a church, my guess is you either already give to various nonprofits or have considered doing so. You may feel you have this verse covered. I commend you on your generosity. But let me ask you another question: Is money your most precious commodity as the hands and feet of Jesus, or is it time? Is giving all of what God is asking of you, or could it also include personal interaction? It’s easy to give financially, but have it cost you very little.

I have listened to the stories of orphans, refugees, and immigrants with empathy, but I cannot fully understand their pain. I can, though, speak on behalf of widows. After my husband’s death, while still in the raw pain of grief, a fellow widow pointed out that God has a special place in His heart for widows. This thought still brings me to tears. 

The widows in the first century had quite a diffcult time, especially if they did not have sons or fathers to support them. Today, I can keep my property and finances without a man’s provision. I don’t have to glean leftovers in the field for today’s meal. So how does this verse apply in today’s context? Maybe it’s just lived out differently.  

When Jesus was walking this earth, He could have healed people by a thought as He walked by, but He didn’t. He stopped and spoke with them. He physically touched them.

My guess is, if you have reached out to a widow, she most likely said, “I’m fine.” She just might be fine, but she is still alone in a culture that has her automatically apologizing for the listener’s discomfort when she begins to weep talking about the departed love of her life. A word to the widows: never apologize for a love so deep that it still brings you to tears. Most widows I speak with are in less need of financial support and in greater need of not feeling overlooked and forgotten. 

Next Steps   

It can feel difficult to do more than give to sustain the widow, orphan, or foreigner, but can I challenge you to do so anyway? Reach out and extend an invitation. Not the obtuse “Call me if you need anything.” Take the initiative to actually call the person to meet for coffee or join your family for a meal.  Even if they say no because they already have plans, I guarantee you will warm their hearts, and they will tell the tale of someone remembering them.