What is my mite?

It is a short story, barely five sentances long. Like so many stories in the Gospels, Jesus stops and takes a time out to point us to an everyday occurence, and makes a simple statement about it that completely alters our perception of the universe. Here in Mark 12:41-44, Jesus sits back and watches people give money in the temple. He watches people stuff the treasure, and he doesn't offer one word of congratulations or thanks until a woman brings in two 'mites,' small coins worth less than a penny each. He is touched by this woman's gift. Everyone else gave out of their abundance, but this woman gave out of her need. As I pondered this passage, I wondered at the faith of the woman who gave her all to God and trusted He would take care of the rest. I have enough food to eat, plenty of clothes to wear, and the leak in my roof is easy enough to catch in a pot during a storm. I don't suffer hunger or need in any area of my life. My gifts to God, my offerings to church and to others, all come out of my abundance. But does God want that? After all, Jesus pointed to the woman who gave up her entire paycheck. What is my mite? It is easy to offer to God and others services that use my strengths and our talents, and the extra money that could buy another fancy pair of shoes or bucket of ice cream that I don't need. But there are areas where I am not so talented. There are things that are not so easy to come by. Can I give these up to God? Can I offer my all in areas where I don't even feel like I have much to start with? In the Bible, God calls his people to give the firstfruits of their labor. To give the fist and best of the harvest. The lambs and other animals sacrificed at the temple had to be 'without blemish' and the best of the herd. I am supposed to give God my best. That is what we are taught. So often I see myself holding back from giving of myself because I feel I am weak in those areas. My firstfruits are my skill set, and keep me in my comfort zone. If I'm not good at it, it's not worth giving. Yet God has also promised in the Word that whatever we give to Him, He will increase and give back. I have been shy all my life, and been scared to get up in front of people and speak because I feared I would not do well at it. I did not want to offer to God something I was not good at. But I found out that I could be a good teacher. There are things that we are all good at, and we offer those gifts freely to the world out of an abudnace of talent and comfort. Some are good at school so they tutor. Some are good at building, so they help others build homes. Yet we each have a corner of ourselves where we feel we are untalented, unskilled, and we hold back because we aren't good enough. Jesus wants us to give Him our mites, the things we aren't good at, the things that make us feel weak and unsure. When we are weak, He is strong. Give everything to the Lord, and He can turn your greatest weakness into your greatest gift.