Skip to main content

She Has Done What She Could


Mark 14:7-9 (New King James Version)
7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

This scripture is perhaps familiar to you.  But, as sometimes happens, it really jumped out at me Sunday when I read it again.  Jesus says some amazing things here, that I think are worth looking at.  You may recall that the woman (and not a 'nice girl' either) brought the costly perfume to Jesus at the supper table and begins by pouring over his (still) dirty feet, crying over them with her tears and then drying them with her hair.  What a sight that must have been.  I wonder how we hostesses would handle this ackward situation today?

I want to focus on this one phrase today, "She has done what she could."  Simple sentence.  Simple thought.  But, oh, what deep implications!  First question on my mind:  Have I done what I could? I need to 'be the best me I can be, for everyone else is taken.'  Don't worry about what everyone else is doing.  What resources, talents, gifts do I have?  Am I using those to the glory of the kingdom?  I can reach people no one else can, because of my unique place in life right now, right where I am.  Which brings up another thing:  Don't put off what can be done now.  Don't wait for tomorrow, for retirement, for better finances, for less stress, etc. . . Today is a gift and we are not promised tomorrow.  Take the gift and give back to God what you can.  Let him have the glory for magnifying that gift with his power.

This woman was chastised by the disciples for 'wasting' her gift. Instead, they thought she should have sold it and given them to the money. I see a few flies in the ointment here, don't you? Perhaps they wanted to control the money or maybe they just thought they had a better idea.  But Jesus defends her decision.  

Don't let what others say discourage you.  Don't wait for a better opportunity.  There is never a better time than today.  There is never someone better suited to the task than you.  Take what is given and use it to the best of your abilities.  God will bless that and He will receive the glory.

Let it be said of us as we journey towards our heavenly home, "She has done what she could."

(The beautiful quilt above was made by the aunt of a friend in Kansas City out of her grandmother's handkerchiefs.  Thank you, Stan and Debbie, for your kind hospitality.  We slept well under that quilt.)

Comments

  1. From Redding MountainFebruary 27, 2014 at 7:51 AM

    That is a beautiful quilt. I've always loved the handkerchiefs from the past but really hate that I have those beauties stashed away. Maybe one day I will get adventurous:) Thanks for sharing your heart.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Changes

Change is inevitable.  Life is a journey and we cannot see the road ahead.  We plan, we plot, we strategize and organize.  Then some element changes, throwing the entire plan into chaos.   How we respond to that change makes all the difference in the outcome.  What happens when our well-thought out plan is no longer workable?  Do we throw up our hands and give up?  Do we lament and moan and weep over it?  Do we begin working on Plan B?  None of these is a 'wrong' answer as long as we don't get stuck in one too long.  How important is it for us to grieve the loss of our first plan?  It's important and necessary even to mourn for what isn't going to happen, or even the loss of what could be.   Rodger and I planned for me to be a 'stay-at-home mom.'  He never liked coming home to an empty house when he was a kid.  But I think that the stronger motivation was having one of us to be there for our children...
Post a Comment
Read more

Update on the Wallet

Now don't faint.  I know it's just been a few days since my last blog post.  But when God get's moving, things happen fast. Wednesday afternoon I arrived home (thanks for the last minute ride from Enterprise, Debbie!)   and saw a huge pile of mail on the recliner (thank you, Janae, for seeing it safely inside!) I was too tired to look at it much, but saw a letter from the police department and tossed it aside, thinking it was just a copy of the final report on my wallet. Thursday morning, my plans changed, and so I started laundry and sorted through the mail.  I opened the police report, only it wasn't a report, but a notice  to pick up evidence!  I raced up (okay, I might have slightly exceeded the speed limit once or twice) to get my wallet. Enough to say that it was intact (minus the cash) and all my cards were in it.  But no pictures (why?  What reason would they have to leave everything else, but not the pictures of my children and grands?). ...
Post a Comment
Read more

When In Doubt, Breathe

Some years ago, my dr. noticed I was very tense and suggested, "When in doubt, breathe!" I laughed and relaxed. At times of tension and stress in the years following, I have remembered those 4 simple words. Sometimes I have to consciously stop holding my breath and take the next breath. It's a simple act, but it helps to clear my foggy brain. Fresh air and fresh thoughts begin to fill my head and I can clearly see the next step. Once I can think, I am able to hear God as He directs my steps. Proverbs 16:9 "The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps."
1 comment
Read more