A Servant’s Heart

During our summer vacation, my nine-year-old daughter—who does nothing half-heartedly—decided that she would create her own full-service spa in her bedroom. By the second day of her venture she had a special sign on her door, nail polish, lotions, and other beauty accouterments lined up carefully on her desk, along with business cards of all things.

She constantly pleaded with me to sit on a designated stool so she could style my hair, give me a manicure, or massage lotion on my feet. I am not one to indulge in manicures and pedicures, but trust me, I happily complied and enjoyed the treatment. Spoiled Spa was the name of her salon and I was certainly feeling spoiled by day one.

The following day, I jokingly commented to her dad that I would surely have to endure a full day of pampering. He wisely reminded me to not squelch her servant’s heart.

As I watched Olivia smiling and rubbing a liberal amount of sweet-smelling lotion on my feet, I could not help but think of Mary who took a pound of costly ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping his feet with her hair. We learn in the book of John that the house was filled with the aroma of the fragrance. Talk about a servant’s heart!

The first time I read the story I was impressed by the extravagance of such an act. Imagine Mary sitting on the floor, using her long hair to wipe expensive oil on the feet of her Savior. Judas, in the background reminds them that this spikenard was worth a full year’s wages.

Who would I have been? Would I have been Martha, the one in the background serving dinner as I am accustomed to doing? Perhaps I would have shared the same concern that the dreaded Judas had of wasting the oil. The money from the sell of the oil could have fed the poor. After all, I am a very practical person. Oh how I wish I could have been Mary! But, would I have worried what other people would think about me sitting on the floor, using my hair of all things to rub oil into another’s feet. Would I be concerned about the mess this oil was making and how long it would take to clean it all up?

Oh perish the thought!

However, at the time of my sitting at the “Spoiled Spa” it did occur to me that I needed to make plans for dinner; my bank account was shrinking during my summer break; and what a mess it would be if Olivia spilled lotion onto the carpet.

Oh Lord, forgive me! Help me to overcome the worries of this world and sit at your feet as Mary did. I want to be unrestrained in my worship of Jesus who for the joy set before Him endured the cross. What pain and humility He endured for me. I lay aside my to-do lists, concerns of waste, and the regard of what others may think to offer the fragrance of extravagant worship to my Jesus! May it be a beautiful aroma, pleasing to the Lord.