두 개의 작은 동전

The Busy Temple

The temple courtyard buzzed with voices, footsteps, and the clink of coins. Near one wall stood tall metal boxes for gifts to God. Coins of copper, silver, and gold dropped into the boxes with different sounds. People walked up all day to drop their money inside. A boy named Nadav sat on the cool steps and watched them. He liked to guess how much each person would give.

The Rich Give Loudly

A merchant in a fine robe strode toward the nearest box. He held a heavy handful of gold coins above the opening. Then he let them fall, and they rang out like little bells. The gold caught the sunlight and sparkled as it tumbled inside. Everyone nearby turned to look, and the man smiled proudly. More rich men followed, each dropping loud piles of shining gold. "They must be the best givers," Nadav thought to himself.

A Quiet Gift

Soon an old woman came slowly across the crowded courtyard. Her dress was worn, and her shoes were thin and gray. She was a widow, with no husband to help her now. In her hand she held two tiny copper coins. They were worth almost nothing, yet they were all she owned. Without a word, she placed them gently into the box. Then she bowed her head and quietly walked away.

What Jesus Saw

A teacher named Jesus had been sitting quietly nearby. He watched every gift, from the loud gold to the small coins. He turned to his friends and pointed toward the widow. "That poor woman gave more than all the rich men," he said. The friends looked confused, for her coins seemed so tiny. But Jesus explained that the rich gave only a little extra. Their large gifts still left them with plenty of money at home. The widow, though, had given everything she had to live on.

Nadav Walks Home

That evening, Nadav walked home thinking about the quiet widow. Gold had sounded so grand as it clattered into the box. Yet God had noticed two small coins the most of all. Nadav understood that giving was not about the loud noise. It was about the love and trust behind each gift. He decided that he would give with a happy and honest heart, however small his gift might be.

This story is inspired by the widow's offering in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 12.