She had but a little oil, not enough to hold on to hope. The widow cried out to Elisha, her creditor threatened to enslave her only treasure: her precious sons. 

A mama bird does most anything to protect her chicks.

Elisha had a plan in mind; God had a miracle in store.
The widow did not just sit and wait, but obediently sprang into action. Can you imagine the neighbors' reaction as she ran from house to house, asking for empty jars?
Has she lost her mind? She has no use for them; she doesn't have a single thing with which to fill them.
Then, God sprang into action, filling every one of those jars with oil; not a drop less, not a drop more.
Elisha instructed her to go sell the oil, pay her debts and be comforted that she would have enough left over to provide for her family of three.
Crisis diverted; hope restored. 
I love this story, but I always want to finish it with this single mother's reaction. I imagine her relief, her gratitude, her amazement. Does she hug Elisha and her boys, drenching them with her tears of gratitude or does she sit quietly, soaking in the magnitude of grace?
Every widow, every single mom could spill her own 2Kings story.  We've all been in her sandals, not knowing where to turn or what to do...then we are rescued. We are gifted with grace!
This Thanksgiving I sit soaking in the blessings of the past three months. My grateful heart is overflowing.
You have filled my jars, every last one of them.
You've listened, held my tears, mucked my house, washed my dishes, and filled my mailbox. 
You've filled my belly, you've covered my nose and blistered feet, you've washed my clothes and tackled my inventory.  You've waded through chest high water to restore my hope.
You know who you are, you generous, praying balcony people who cheer, encourage, spur me. I've known some of you for a very long time; others of you are now my new brothers and sisters. 
I name each of you in my prayers.
Grace...it's an overwhelming thing. My natural reaction is to pay everyone back just like Elisha's widow, but how can one ever satisfy such extravagant love and sacrifice?  I recently received a note in the mail that was accompanied with thoughtful gift cards. The "angels" simply asked that I pay it forward when given the opportunity.  Maybe grace and gratitude is a lot like miracle jars filled with oil. But, instead of selling them, we just keep pouring them out on others in need. 
This Thanksgiving I thank the church...not a building, but a community from so many walks of life.
We are a complicated, talented, and flawed lot of jars, waiting to be filled with God's Spirit and Plan.
We don't go by an acronym, like FEMA; we are the hands and feet of the Name above all names: Jesus.
You have been my James 1:27 church and I continually offer thanks for you.
May God bless you this Thanksgiving and fill your jars!