She Did What She Could

I went to my very first Women of Faith conference this weekend and while I do not normally blog/share things like this on here, I really felt like I should because the main message behind it is so much bigger than I could imagine.

If you were to ask me a year ago if I was going to go to this conference and if I was going to go with the people I went with, I probably would have rolled my eyes and said there is no way. I would not have even referred to the friend that invited me as a friend. To say I am glad for second chances and mended relationships would be an understatement and something I thought I had fully grasped prior to attending the conference. Then Elisa Morgan spoke on Saturday and the point was driven home even further.

Elisa was the president of MOPS for over 20 years and is just an amazing woman. Her talk focused on Mark 14:3-9

"While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.  Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume?  It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.  “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.  The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.  She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.  Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Elisa then broke down the phrase "she did what she could"and in those very moments I felt as if the entire talk was directed at me. The main take away is that you do not know what people are going through and that you must be careful with the words that leave your lips because you don't know how they will effect the person they are directed to. Additionally, it was a reminder that you do not have to do a lot, but you can do what you can. If someone is having a rough time, simply taking the time to listen to them and it could make all of the difference.

After listening to Elisa all I could think was, "I should have taken the time...I didn't do what I could". When my friend and I were walking on the concourse after the talk we both mentioned how we felt that was directed at us and how we are so glad that we have reconnected.

Not everyone is given a second chance like we were. Pride and stubbornness tends to get in the way of allowing you to do all that you can.

Like the passage in Mark says, the apostles criticized Mary for pouring the expensive perfume on Jesus, they thought it was a waste and that it could have been used in a better way. However, Mary did what she could. Think about those final days of his life. Having a crown of thorns crushed into his head, being whipped, carrying his cross and then being crucified. During all of this, that scent from the perfume was still there and served as a reminder that someone was there and someone believed in him.

That one moment you take away from something you are doing to be with someone in need could make all of the difference in the world. I am truly so sorry I didn't take that time and that I didn't make that difference. However, I am thankful I have the chance to do it again.

Will you do what you can?