{what if i did what i could}
“Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who previously had leprosy. While eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. But some of those at the table were indignant, “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did what she could…” Mark 14:3-9
the woman in this story acted with what she had. and she acted where she was!
“What if I took stock of my offerings and humbly but realistically grabbed hold of what I could do- and did it, without holding back? Even if it made little sense to those around me but all the sense in the world to God? How could I wholeheartedly let God love me and love Him back, if I did what I could?
What if I acted with what I have? What if I did what I could by giving what I think I can’t live without? Could I live without another pair of shoes? Could I make out a check for the same amount as my mortgage this month and invest in a school in India? I wonder…
Sometimes acting with what we have means we spend money. Other times we invest less tangible assets, such as love, time, or energy.”
this is an excerpt from the book, She Did What She Could.
i’ve read it before, a year or so ago. but reading it again i find it’s challenging me in ways that didn’t strike me the first time through. and i find myself asking…
what if I acted where I was, with what I already have?
what does that look like in my life?
often we put off what we could do because we think we need more before we can give.
more money. more time. more spirituality. more getting it together –
wondering what in the world we have to offer. feeling talentless. useless. timid.
instead of doing what we can, we do nothing at all.
i love Jesus’ response to the naysayers, it speaks right to my feelings of inadequacy too -
“leave her alone. she did what she could…”
in other words, “let her bring what she has. let her do what she can. let her give, whatever that is.”
and i hear my heart asking, what alabaster boxes do i have to give? right now. today.
not waiting until i have more. worrying it’s not good enough. wondering what others might think.
“stop the self editing and just do.”
how might others see the gospel – see Jesus- if i did what i could?