Today’s scripture: Matthew 26:6-13 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Tammy Mills):
I love this story! It is nice to see a woman as a hero for a change! The scripture is so patriarchal that sometimes I am ready to chuck it all! I digress. . . Sorry. . .
It is so nice to be reminded that sometimes we need to live extravagantly! There is a time for logic and order, but there is also a time to just go for it! This lady knew who Jesus was and she treated him as the king. Jesus acknowledges her actions as being appropriate and also acknowledges that she is the only one who gets what is about to happen. She followed her heart and her spirit, even thought the elders thought it was “wasteful.” Jesus honored her and declared her actions would never be forgotten.
In March 2002, my girlfriend, our first born daughter and I traveled to paradise — Disney World. While there we received a message at our hotel to be at the Rose Garden in the Magic Kingdom the next day. I had traveled to Disney World many times and never been invited to the Rose Garden beside the castle. I was so excited. I couldn’t imagine what it might be about. My girlfriend made some sarcastic remark about it being a sales pitch for a time share.
The next day at the appointed time we walked to the garden. I was so excited. When I got to the entrance there weren’t any other people. That freaked me out a bit, being the extravert I am, I don’t go where there aren’t other people. My girlfriend thought we should check it out anyway, so we did. When we walked down the rose lined path I smelled stargazer lilies and I saw two Minnie Mouse dolls in wedding dresses and a big Winnie the Pooh. My girlfriend, in the shadow of the castle — right there in the middle of the Magic Kingdom — asked me to marry her!
To really appreciate this you have to understand my girlfriend (now my illegal wife) is a super introvert who is morally opposed to extravagant gestures. She is steeped in practicality and pragmatism. She was raised on the family farm and then trained to be a chemist, so needless to say the fact that she did such an extravagant gesture blew me away! (It still does!) I will always honor my illegal wife for this extravagant gesture.
I believe there is a time and place for extravagant living. There are just some times an occasions that call for it! Jesus knew this and in turn honored the lady who knew how and when to live extravagantly.
Thought for the day: When are some times that extravagance might be in order?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.