Hindi nga naubos ang harina sa lalagyan, at hindi rin natuyo ang langis sa sisidlan, tulad ng sinabi ni Yahweh sa pamamagitan ni Elias.

1 Mga Hari 17:16

Napakasakit ang mamatayan ng magulang, lalo na kung masundan ito ng pagpanaw ng asawa. Ganito ang naranasan ni Malou, who lost her father and then her husband in just a week. In a snap, she became an orphan and a widow.

Mag-isa niyang pinalaki ang kanyang anak. Ramdam niya ang hirap ng walang katuwang sa buhay. Kahit sinisikap niyang magprovide, madalas, kinukulang pa rin. But the Lord never left Malou. He provided a scholarship for Malou’s daughter, a pension for Malou, and a home for both of them. The Lord made sure na kahit hirap sila buhay, hindi nila mararamdaman na sila’y iniwanan Niya.

In 1 Kings 17:13–16, God commanded Elijah to ask help from the widow. At that moment paubos na ang harina at langis nila. Pero sa kabila nito nagbigay pa rin siya kay Elijah, at naniwala sa pangakong God will provide for them. Natupad ang pangako at hindi nga naubos ang langis at harina hanggang dumating ang tag-ulan.

This story tells us three things:

1. Malapit ang puso ng Panginoon sa widows and orphans. Alam Niya ang paghihirap nila at kagustuhan Niyang suportahan sila. In Psalm 68:5, God is described, “Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy.”
2. Anuman ang katayuan natin sa buhay, pwede tayong gamitin ng Panginoon to be a blessing for others.
3. Tumutupad ang Panginoon sa Kanyang pangako.

The story of the widow, orphan, and Elijah is a testament that God is faithful to the helpless and the forgotten. He also taught us that widows and orphans can be a blessing to others.

Inspired by God’s love, Malou’s orphan daughter is now a vessel of hope and encouragement to children and other people who experienced loss and grief.

And it’s all because of God’s great love.