Born September 12, 1916
Died February 1, 2009
Mark 14:3-9
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as 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.
4Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
6"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
A Woman with a Generous Heart
It was a gift of time.
We are told this jar would have been worth a years wages of a laborer. This woman likely was not a rich woman. In the days before CDs and IRAs and 401Ks, a jar of perfume like this was a savings vehicle. It represented years of savings. It represented years of provisions if it had been sold at some point in the future. When she gave this gift to Jesus, she was giving him the gift of her time.
Wanda's Poem -- Dear Grandmama,
I know that your memories have faded, but I would like for you to know that I still hold the special memories spent with you deep within my heart.
I remember you holding my hand as we went to church and Sunday school.
I remember cutting the big beautiful blue flowers from your hydrangea bush.
I remember the times we walked in the garden and picked turnips and how you cooked the best turnip greens in the world.
I remember the joy shared at family dinners at your dining room table.
I remember going to Ralph’s Gas Station and getting bubble gum.
I remember you helping me to sew my first and only skirt.
I remember the love that you embraced me with when I was expecting my first child.
I remember sitting in the swing with you and my new little girl on your front porch.
I remember how you gave so much of yourself so that those around you were surrounded with happiness and love.
When my memories fade, my wish is that someone will remember me as I do you.
I love you for the person you are and for the wonderful person you will always be.
It was a gift of Industry.
Not only was this gift a gift of her time, it was a gift of her labor. It was probably the fruit of an aching back and aching feet, of fingers blistered and nails dirtied working in the field. Grandma was never afraid to work, and was always glad to share the fruit of that work. Perhaps that was the work of an assembly line in the candy factory, or the work of long hours in the kitchen in her home. She was always glad to work so that she could be a blessing to someone else.
Proverbs 31 gives a beautiful description of a wife of Noble character. Much of it describes the willingness of this woman to work and provide for her family.
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
Most of all, it was a Gift of Love
Others criticized what this woman did as being over the top, too extravagant. No one ever said that Vivian Hardin was extravagant. She was a simple person who appreciated the simple things in life. But while others criticized this woman, Jesus praised her for a great act of love. What she did came from a loving heart.
In May of 1985 I graduated from college and moved to Fort Worth, TX to go to seminary. The seminary made losing weight and getting in shape a condition of my acceptance. By the time I came home for Christmas that year I had lost 50 pounds. I was in the best condition of my life. But it had been a tough 6 months. I had to work long hours on top of going to school, and money was very tight. I was supporting myself for the first time in my life. When asked about my weight loss, I joked that I couldn't afford to eat. Poor Grandmama took it tto heart. When time to go back to school rolled around, she loaded me down with boxes and boxes of food. No grandson of hers was going to go hungry if she had anything to say about it. She'd be glad to know I haven't missed a meal since.
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Death from the other side
Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his saints. -- Psalm 116:15
From this side death looks like defeat, but from God's side it looks like a victory.
From this side death looks like the end, but from God's side it is a new beginning.
From this side death is separation, but from God's side, it is a reunion.
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More Scripture
Psalm 23
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
John 14
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God
[a]; trust also in me.
2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
4You know the way to the place where I am going."
Jesus the Way to the Father
5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
Catherine
Jonathon
Mike
Terri
