Pour the Nard

Mark 14:3-9

3 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. 4 But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”

For months, I have felt God calling me to write this devotional. I’d spent a lot time seeking a devotional that’s real, honest, and raw. Nothing was filling my cup where I sit today — wrangling three beautiful children under 9 years old in a fast-paced city and a money-centric world.

And then God called me.

I admit to ignoring Him for a while, doubting that I had heard Him correctly. Me? I didn’t think I was good enough. I let the lies get to me. (But more on that later.)

In February, I was journaling by the columbarium at our church and this Bible passage struck me.

300 denarii is the equivalent of a year’s salary. Mary gives up a whole year’s salary to be there with Jesus in this moment, just days before he is crucified. Thankfully there’s no crucifying in our future! But that balance of waste-gain-reward-time-money can be a hard one for today’s moms.

So here I am. On the other side of newborns and toddlers, and I’m telling you: Pour the Nard, Mom. Here are the things I wish my devotional told me when I was up at 3 a.m. with a feverish toddler and feeding a newborn. You are not alone in your thoughts. These devotionals are for you.

Short. Once per week. Digital. For you when you have 90 seconds to yourself. A quiet place to fill back up so you can pour it all out again for your family.

Emily

Want more? Read John’s version of this story in John 12:1-8.