Twenty-eight cents doesn’t seem like much—something you could probably find on the street if you walked a couple of blocks. But one day last week 28 cents became quite a lot. I was given 28 cents by a gentleman who lives on very little. He had collected his change so that he could contribute to helping someone else eat a much-needed meal. I accepted the 28 cents and vowed to myself that it would make a difference.

As much as the man who gave me 28 cents caught my attention, the widow’s offering at the temple may have caught the attention of Jesus even more. He watched everyone putting their offerings into the money box, but he stopped to comment on the widow. Perhaps what Jesus appreciated most was her attitude and her willingness to give.

Something else here should also catch our attention. Jesus made sure that everyone knew the widow’s story because he wanted to remind us that every­one has something to give and that every gift ­matters.

Sometimes people feel that the amount they can give doesn’t matter much and won’t make a difference because it isn’t very big.

What is important, though, is that Jesus notices—and that makes all the difference.