She Did What She Could: Five words of Jesus that will change your life is the title of Elisa Morgan’s latest book. I was fortunate enough to purchase a copy at the MOPS Convention and read it on my plane rides home. The title comes from Mark 14:3-9 and I think it is important enough to include it here:
Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from the essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head.
Some of those at the table were indignant. “why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.
But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them wheneve you want to. But you will not always have me. She did what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.
Jesus said “She Did What She Could”. Elisa Morgan introduced that phrase to all the MOPS Convention Attendees last year with her SDWSC pin. I really liked the idea of delving so deeply into that one phrase. The book is divided into 3 parts. Part one takes each word of She Did What She Could and examines it. Part 2 asks and examines each word of the question “What If I Did What I Could?”. Part 3 then finishes by asking and examining the We in the question “What If We Did What We Could?”
I have definitely read that passage from Mark in the Bible before, but never have I had someone focus my attention on that phrase from Jesus…”She did what she could.” There is some comfort there for me now after reading the book and a call to action. I know I can’t do EVERYTHING. Some days I get that SUPERMOM syndrome and really try to do it all and I end up not getting anything done; however, if I find what I am suppose to do and focus on that, then perhaps I too can hear Jesus say about me that “she did what she could”?
From the back of the book”
Most of us care. We really do. We care about poverty and injustice, about orphans and the sick. And yet, weighed down by everyday tasks of bringing home a paycheck, putting food on the table, and shuttling kids around, we question our ability to make a difference. Bombarded by one celebrity help-the-world-athon after another, we shrug our shoulders in futility and do absolutely nothing.
But what if we did….
Something?
Just one thing.
The thing that matters more than anything else in that solitary moment.
What if we did just that?
What if?
If nothing else, She Did What She Could encourages us to be aware of our actions and how they reflect Jesus to others.
Kind echoes indeed….
SURPRISE!
Christy
