widow's mites

Noun

widow's mite (plural widow's mites)

1. (idiomatic) A very small gift or donation which, however, represents a great sacrifice on the part of the giver.
   • The matter of this Duty, is ſomething of theſe worldly Goods which God hath given us, are juſtly our own, and which we may ſpare, though never ſo little, if but the poor Widow's mite: for God requires our Charity according to our portion, we must give willingly and plentifully.1662, George Lawson, chapter XIII, in An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrewes. […], London: Printed by J. S. for George Sawbridge, […], →OCLC, verse 16, page 354
2. The lepton coin.
   • Leptons became famous as the "widows mites" when Christ observed a widow donating two of them to the temple treasury. Christ noted that she had donated more than everyone else had because that was all she had. The two mites were worth about 70 cents to one dollar in modern buying power, or about...2002, Ralph L. Stephenson, chapter 6, in The Biblical Guide to Wealth, Health, and Happiness, Victoria, B.C.: Trafford Publishing, page 131