By:Mandy
A few weeks ago, I read the passage in Matthew about Jesus getting anointed. It's just a few days before He will face the cross and He's spending time with His friends. Mary comes up to Jesus with "an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment" and she pours it on His head. The disciplines consider this a waste. Why dump all that on one guy's head when you could have sold it to feed the poor? Good question. But Jesus simply says, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me." (Matthew 26:6-14)
There has been much written and said about this passage. In fact, Jesus next statement ("For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.") has been a personally motivating verse as I've pursued missions. What God pointed me to this time was simply the phrase "beautiful thing." That has been a continual gentle reminder these past weeks as I sit down with my Bible each day during Lydia's nap time. I reflect on the morning of reading books to a toddler, preparing meals, cleaning the highchair tray (again), cleaning, stacking blocks and kicking the ball around. Is that a waste or a beautiful thing? I think of the post-nap-hours ahead. We will play in the garden, find caterpillars, fold laundry, and sing songs. Will that be a waste or a beautiful thing?
My time is God's time, just like Mary's alabaster flask was God's. We are stewards. And I think that it matters more what my heart is behind the caterpillar-hunt with my 1 year old, than the hunt itself. Can even that be an act of worship, a beautiful thing? Can I love Jesus and fill my house with sweet-smelling perfume even while I reassemble cloth-diapers for the 100th time?
Answer: YES, by grace.
Grace is a beautiful thing.
On special occasions (you know, like a Thursday), Lydia and I make smoothies. She wakes up from her afternoon nap, a little hungry, a little grumpy. But don't worry, little one! Mommy has the blender all ready to go. Just add a little fruit, yogurt and sometimes a spoon of peanut butter. Tada! Smoothie...or as Lydia lovingly refers to them: "Schmoonoos".
