Replenishing

By Lesly Chamberlain

Like the widow

who fed Elijah

with her last portion of meal

and went again

till famine’s end

to find her reserves

still fresh

I sense the echo

of an arid vessel

sin my own heart—

emptied by the ravages

of earthly existence,

robbed

by the unkindness

of circumstance

and agency,

broken, I look

for what I count (and fear) to be

one last portion of meal

only to find

like the widow of Zarephath

that

when I have given all,

He has filled my vessel

with yet another portion,

taking me step by step

in a path of gratitude

to His feet.

Photo by FPG International