Chapter 10- Mary's Extravagant Love

Ah.  I have fallen behind, for good reason though.  I have spent some time with my family.  My parents came up to visit and now the boys and I are spending time with them.  It has been a summer full of feeling like a Martha.  I am trying hard to remember to be a Mary.  This chapter spoke to me.  In the busyness of the summer I want to have that prayerful abandon that Mary did when she poured the perfume on Jesus' feet.  The fact that even though it was probably her dowry and the cost could have fed the poor, she instead poured it out for Jesus.

I want that prayerful abandon to leave it alone.  The laundry, the money, the wants for earthly things, and the envy of others.  I want to come with abandon leaving it all behind to serve Jesus.  Mary gave an extravagant gift.  She prepared Jesus for burial.  It was misunderstood and probably brought the truth home for some, but still.  She knew she had to do it.  She knew she again had to fall at Jesus feet and leave it all behind.

This week's text in many churches is the story of Mary and Martha.  I wish I could hear my hubby's sermon.  He is going to talk about how Martha gets a bad rap for questioning Mary, but we forget that this story is sandwiched between others of hospitality.  It is stuck in between stories of Jesus being the host and the guest.  (Communion anyone?)  It is still a balance between coming with abandon and serving.  (Waiting to read next's week chapter on finding the balance of this.)

The chapter talked about how Mary's gift was actually practical.  I guess I didn't realize that.  She was preparing Jesus for his burial.  Jesus had turned his face towards Jerusalem.  He was ready.  His disciples weren't ready, but he was.  She was doing something that needed to be done.

• How often do we over think our extravagant gifts of love?  Too often I do.  I think if I can't go all out and do something amazing it is not worth it.  While Mary's gift was extravagant so was the love she did it with.  That is what Jesus is asking.  That the gift we give is done with extravagant love.  Even the small things can be extravagant.  They can be extravagant to the person you serve, to your heart, and to God.  We are called to do extravagant things and sometimes we forget that our earthly view of extravagant is not God's.  The little things can be extravagant too.  

So, I will spend the rest of the summer in abandon.  I will come to Jesus ready to do the small (or large) extravagant gifts for someone.  I will extravagantly lavish attention on my boys.  I will forget the calendar and know that God will take care of what I don't get done.  I will pray that he leads my footsteps to find those things I can do to show love.  Love shown because of Christ's death on the cross is extravagant no matter what is done!