Letting Go for Greater Things

A few years ago I heard a story that went like this:

When a young girl turned 12 years old, her dad gave her a beautiful gift, a pearl necklace. These pears weren’t real ones though, they were cheap imitation pearls. The young girl loved the gift so much she would put on the necklace every single night before going to bed, so when her dad came by to say goodnight, she always looked like a princess.

This continued for several years. When she turned 15, her dad began asking her to give him back the necklace. She had grown so attached to it, she couldn’t even think of giving it away. She was a bit resentful, how could her dad be asking her to return the gift? The dad didn’t stop asking. About twice a week when he went to say goodnight he’d have the same request.

About two months later, the girl, tiered of her dad asking, hesitantly took off the necklace and gave it to him. The dad immediately pulled a beautifully wrapped box from his pocket and gave it to her. She opened it and could not believe her eyes, it was a beautiful pearl necklace. These weren’t imitation pearls, they were the finest Mikimoto pearls!

The young lady did not want to let go, and her inability to let go prevented her from receiving something much greater.  She did not trust her father enough to obey his gentle and persistent request.

In today’s readings we hear of two women who also let go, even though they had excellent, legitimate reasons to excuse themselves from letting go.  We hear of two women who trusted God against all odds and were greatly blessed.

The widow of Zarephath only had a handful of flour and a little bit of oil.  She let go of those things by sharing them with the prophet and she received plenty: she did not run out of flour or oil for a whole year.

The widow of the Gospel only had two small coins.  She let go of those coins and she received plenty: the exaltation of her example by Jesus, and I will assume here, a place in the heavenly kingdom.

These women are examples of the complete trust we are called to place in Jesus Christ.  It is difficult to trust because trusting another person (God included) requires letting go.  It requires letting go of our plans, of our idiosyncrasies, our soap boxes, our comfort zones and allowing God to take charge.  We like being in charge, so it’s difficult for us to allow God to reign supreme in our daily lives.

The girl in the story eventually trusted her father and she received pearls.  The first widow trusted Elijah and she received food.  The second widow trusted God and she received an eternal reward.

Letting go and trusting God are good things. Letting go leads to spiritual growth. Letting go can lead to greater things in life. This being the case, what may God be asking you to let go of?

Perhaps letting go of the stale self-imposed routine or busyness to enjoy your family and children more?

Perhaps letting go of the desire to always have the best and the newest of everything?

Perhaps letting go of unneeded expenses and live within your means, so you don’t have to worry about a growing debt?

Perhaps letting go of bad habits that make you waste time, waste money, or tarnish your purity?

Perhaps letting go of selfish attitudes and become more mindful of the needs of those around you?

Perhaps letting go of your own life completely, to lose your life, so that you may find it again in Christ?

It’s scary to let go and trust, but God is holding a treasure chest full of good things for those who place their complete trust in Him, for those who let go and allow God to take charge.

Jesus did say, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”  We are all called to let go and to allow Christ to work wonders in our lives.

Imagine what wonders God will do in your life if you only let go!  Had the young girl not let go, she would still have her plastic pearls, had the widow of Zarephath not let go of her bit of food, she and her son would have died of starvation, and had the poor widow of the Gospel not let go, her faith would not have been exalted.

Let us ask the Lord to give us the grace and strength to let go and trust Him.  Let us dive deeply into his presence trusting he will give us the grace we seek.