The value of cabbages

One thing I love about my line of work is seeing where people live and work.

No I’m not a stalker! I get to accept invitations to meet people in all sorts of different places.

On the weekend I paid a visit to a cane farmer whose family has had a farm in the district since 1909.

I saw the original farm house where the manager now lives.

I was also treated to a tour of a vegetable garden kept by an 86-year-old woman who still tends the garden and refuses to retire.

She greeted my wife and I warmly and then she learned I was an “umfundisi” (minister), she went away and came back with Checkers packets full of beetroot, cabbage, spinach, spring-onions and tomatoes.

I was blown away. Still am.

I was reminded of Jesus watching as people gave their gifts in to the temple (Mark 12v41-44).

Rich people came and threw in large amounts. A poor widow came along and put in two copper coins.

Small change.

Insignificant.

But not in the eyes of Jesus. He calls his disciples to him and singles out the widow, saying, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.

They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.”

I would hazard a guess that I benefitted from a gift of something she lives on.

That’s probably why Jesus also teaches us not to show favouritism. The way of the world is blue light brigades, VIP treatment, fancy titles, reserved parking places, and pride of place at meetings and banquets – but cabbages in a checkers packet and the widow’s small change reveal a different value system. God sees us differently. God looks to the heart of the matter.

God sees my heart and my motivation. May I learn to favour all people equally.

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