When someone offers you a gift of time or assistance, do you see it as a gift from God? Dorothea shares.
“When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, and kissed them and poured perfume on them” (Luke 7:37-38).
There’s a bustling nail salon near my favorite craft store. The technicians work from stools, filing nails, massaging feet, or painting on vibrant colors. Their door sign welcomes walk-in customers and clients with appointments.
When my husband started experiencing pain in his left foot, his doctor suggested soaking it and then a self-massage. I offered to rub it for him. I sat in a comfortable chair and kneaded the muscles on his foot until he felt relief.
I did it because I love him and wanted to ease his pain, but he saw it as an expression of sacrifice on my part because of the issues with my back.
I thought about those nail techs. How did they feel after a long day? Yes, they were paid for a service, but were they ever truly appreciated?
The sinful woman in Luke 7 willingly offered her valuable perfume to express her love for Christ. She turned a deaf ear to the scorn around her and focused her attention on Jesus. The lowly act of foot washing, usually reserved for slaves or lowest ranking household staff, became an example of sacrificial love and devotion. Jesus commended the woman for her display of love.
He will do the same for us, no matter how small or insignificant we believe our gesture is. The Lord sees our hearts and knows what motivates us to reach out to aid others.
Never be ashamed of your contribution. God knows your limits and loves you no matter how much or how little you are able to do.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and for letting us know that even a small glass of water can be used to display Your love to someone in need (Matthew 25:31-45). Amen.
About the Author:
Dorothea Love lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Norman. They are the parents of two adult children. She has lived with chronic illness and pain for over 30 years. She knows she must rely on God’s grace to strengthen her whenever she faces a challenge. She invites you to read some of her other work on her blog: http://www.dorothealove.wordpress.com.
Can you recall a kind gesture that one gave you and how it made you feel?
We can always offer love. Whatever we have we can give away. If you have been blessed with the ability to read this at your computer, take a moment to share it with someone who is hurting, call a friend, smile at someone today. This is Brandon Heath singing “Love Does.” Yep. Love DOES. -Lisa
Chronic Illness Pain Daily Devotionals 