What a Beautiful Thing . . .

Matthew 26:8-12
When the disciples saw this, they were indignant.  "Why this waste?"  they asked.  "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman?  She has done a beautiful thing to me.  The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me."

This past February for me is a lost month.  I am down with the creeping crud and the continuous cough for almost three weeks.  It is a miracle that I can even muster the energy and wherewithal to keep this blog up-to-date during these hacking-up-a-lung days of misery and lost sleep; nights when retreat to the couch where I can prop up and indulge in cough suppressants becomes the norm.

It is February 28th, the night before my birthday.  I disappear into our bathroom to brush and floss my teeth, don pajamas, and scrub my face.  When I return to our dining area, I find an early birthday gift from my husband, Danny, enticingly placed on the table.  I am so surprised, I forget to cough!  These are the gifts I open to both my disbelief and delight.

I'm so undeserving of this magnanimous assortment of complexion enhancing treasures!  And, I'm already anticipating what fun it will be to try each one out in time.  Though I'm unworthy of such luxury, I'm blessed beyond blessed that Danny thinks I am.  Overwhelmed?  You bet!

Enter Saturday morning.  My birthday.  I wake to the pleasant surprise of not being on the couch.  I've made it the entire night in the calm and comfort of my own bed.  No cough suppressant.  No coughing fits.  I'm elated!  It looks like I'll be able to sing in church this coming Sunday after missing three services in a row.  What could be better than that?

Yet, Danny, trying to make things even better on my actual birthday, presents me with yet another surprise.

How much more could I have possibly anticipated?  Dreamed of?  Before me are gifts I would never, ever dared purchase on my own.

Never . . .

But, oh, what a beautiful thing Danny has done for me.  How nourished my face feels!  How my skin glows with renewed vibrancy.  I feel years younger, and I am rejuvenated in ways I would not have expected.

And, as Jesus reminds us, gifts of luxury, given in the spirit of genuine generosity, cannot be wrong.  The woman who acted from her heart to anoint our Lord with extravagant perfume gave from her heart and soul.  She pleased and soothed Jesus and gave Him comfort on this earth.

Who among us wouldn't want to be in her shoes?

Who among us wouldn't want to offer all we are and all we have to the Lord?

~

Are you offering your all to Jesus today?

Prayer:  We cannot thank You enough, Father, for the sacrifice Your Son, Christ Jesus, made on the cross for our sins.  Of all the gifts we have received or will ever receive, this is the greatest and grandest of them all.  May we ever be grateful and give all that we are and all that we have to Your service.  Amen.