I wish I could be there for you Friday, but I have to work.
I wish I could give more money in support, but I just had to replace the tires on my car.
I wish I could visit the five other people in the hospital, but I only made it to visit one. Is that showing favoritism?
I wish I could make homemade cupcakes and healthy snacks for my kid’s class, but all I could do was pick up carrot sticks and a box of cookies.
Do you ever feel guilty for not doing enough? Do you ever feel judged by others for doing the wrong thing?
No one can do it all. We are not superwomen, nor are we expected to be.
And only God knows our heart and our motivations.
Check out the following story from Mark 14:3-9.
3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”
In memory of this woman and in her honor, let’s celebrate those who “did what they could.” Jesus sees you. When you doubt yourself and when others seem to judge, remember this affirmation, “She did what she could.” Allow your best effort to be enough because God is the one who knows your heart and is the only one who is all-sufficient. He will make up the difference. God did what He could to make it possible for you to do what you can do—no less, no more.
Do not be discouraged if you feel that “all you can do” is your one small part. Every little bit makes a difference and together, through Christ, we can each do what we can.