Part 2: Poured Out
When my boys were young, I often shared statements they said to me on social media. I did this so family and friends from far away could see how precious they were. Now, thanks to Facebook Memories, I get reminded of the most precious moments from when our boys were young, moments that I’ll never forget.
Some of the cutest statements that I shared came from Eli when he was a toddler. Though sweet and innocent, his statements often sounded like a pick-up line, as if I was his girlfriend. He would say things like, “Momma, I’m so glad you’re my sweet little woman,” and “You’re my hot momma,” probably because he heard his daddy say these things. Yet, he didn’t just say it to me; he would even tell people at church and school that I was his “hot momma.” Kind of embarrassing, but he was just using affectionate words to demonstrate his love for me to everyone.
There is one memory that truly shows this child-like affection. I was in my bedroom ironing. I had no make-up on. I was in my pj’s, just feeling like an old maid. Eli walked in, wrapped his little arm around my leg, looked up at me with his sweet blue eyes, and said, “Your beautiful momma.” As a 4-year-old, he was pouring his best love out to me. His little one-liners helped me see his genuine love and adoration of his momma.
It's an amazing feeling when someone you so deeply love trusts you with that love. To this day, Eli still understands and receives my love. Likewise, as he receives it, he pours it back out to me. He knows I won’t reject it, or ignore it; therefore, he can confidently approach me with love.
This is how I imagine the woman, who anointed Jesus at Bethany, felt when she gave him a hair treatment. Come on, you know a man likes to be pampered too! I can picture Jesus in a Pantene commercial now, leaning back with oil being poured on his thick, flowing hair. Anyways, I see her feeling comfortable and confident enough to approach him like a friend.
“A woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured it on his (Jesus) head,” Mark 14:3.
In a moment, our Biblical friend went from breaking to pouring. She poured it all out, the whole jar! And the fragrance of her praise filled the room. She simply loved her savior. Now remember, some were fussing that she wasted the oil, because they only saw the monetary value she held in her hand. It is implied that Judas was the fussiest one speaking out and I find it interesting that he is criticizing here about waste when he was about to waste his whole life for a few bits of silver.
This woman, however, understood what value was in her hands before she broke and as she poured. She knew there was so much more value in the letting go than in the holding on. Just as Jesus was about to sacrificially pour out all of His grace, she too wanted to pour out all that she had, completely and willingly. I’m sure that her everything was an encouragement to Jesus as He gave His everything on the cross.
There’s value in the letting go.
What is something that the world considers valuable, that is keeping you from pouring it all out for Jesus? For instance, time is a precious commodity. It’s of high value, especially to busy people and working moms. But instead of thinking that we don’t have enough time, what if we poured out 10 minutes a day to praying, or reading His Word? 10 minutes may be all the time we have to spare but think of the value that we would gain if we poured all of it on Jesus!
Habits and routines are also valuable to many. Afterall, it’s much easier to keep a routine than it is to try something new. Just remember this: the Israelites walked the same routine over-and-over for 40 years in the desert, while a valuable promised land waited for them. Don’t stay stuck in a routine if the promise of a higher value awaits.
What is your alabaster jar? It’s waiting for you to break it and pour out your everything. (Just remember to journal it, or share it on social media, because one day in the future a precious memory will remind you of how valuable that moment was).