Perfume

I am heading to Juarez, Mexico to an orphanage for spring break and one of the requests for us to bring down is perfume for the girls and cologne for the boys. It is incredible to think about how something as simple as smelling nice makes such a difference.

It reminds me of a speaker at the One Conference talking about Charity Water. They build wells for communities all over the world and this specific story caught my attention:

When asked how this one well changed a woman's life she responded that it changed everything. Before having a well she would travel hours each day to collect water and bathe her children, her husband and then herself. Laundry was done in the same order, each of her family members before she would use any of the water for herself. This of course meant that by the time it was her turn the water was no longer "gently" used, but a murky brown color. She continued to serve her family this way for years...until their town received a well. Now she has an abundance of hours she gets to spend during the day with her children instead of walking and she gets clean water to wash not only her children and husband but also herself. The woman beams as she proudly exclaims,

"Now, I am beautiful!"

This woman's face and story are burned into my mind to remind me that something soo little can instill so much worth in a person. That is what I hope to do, let each and every human being I come in contact with know how deeply they are loved, and that they were created with intrinsic worth. In thinking about the aroma of perfume, I remember the story in Matthew 26:7-10

"...a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, "Why this waste? "For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor." But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me."

Jesus was honored by this woman's actions even though they did not make sense in the eyes of the disciples or the world. What is something you can do to do a "good deed unto the Lord?" What can you pour out, lay before His feet, honor Him with? This spring break I challenge you to ask the question...what is my perfume that I can waste upon the feet of God?