Make today the day you praise Jesus

Jim Honeycutt

Chaplain-Baptist Minister

One warm Saturday morning in May when I was a lad of about 10 years old, I rode my bike four blocks to downtown Mart to do a little shopping. It was a secret trip that I was taking by myself after working for several weekends for my father out on the farm.

My excitement grew as I peddled closer and closer to the Martine, a ladies dress shop, where a necklace I had spied earlier in the front window was waiting for my hard-earned cash. Mother’s Day was Sunday and this year I was going to give my mother something I had worked for.

Before today, I usually made her a simple crafted gift or purchased something with money my father had given me, but this year was different. I was determined to show my mother how much I loved and appreciated her by spending my own work earned cash.

As I rode passed RC Johnson’s neighborhood store, my friends called out, “Hey what ya doing?” Their arms just a waving trying to get my attention. I knew if I stopped one of them was surely bound to talk me into spending my money, so I kept riding.

In front of Reads Grocery store a group was set up having a bake sale. Pies and cakes, cookies and fudge all lined up looking delicious. “It’s a great cause!” they hollered, as I sped by. Man, those cookies smelled good. I was tempted, but I kept on riding. Finally, I arrived. As I got off my bike to walk inside, a girl I had a slight crush on from school walked up with her mother. Dumbfounded I just kind of stood there trying to process my words.

“Cat got your tongue?” her mother laughed. And in that moment as I stood looking at that girl my mind was blank. I couldn’t remember what I was doing, I couldn’t form a word, I couldn’t move. Thankfully within a few seconds, which seemed like eternity, the blood started flowing again freeing my thoughts and my tongue. Standing there, feeling on the spot, even after all my previous excitement, I was honestly considering not going in the store. 

Why, you might ask? Doubt! Doubt plain and simple. What if she doesn’t like it? What if this girl tells my friends I was in a ladies dress shop? What if this? What if that?

But what actually was causing my doubts to appear? Don’t know, to this day I don’t know. 

It’s funny how it happens, yet not humorous, we can be bound and determined to do something particular in showing our love and every step along the way something challenges our resolve. I am happy to say I pushed through all those temptations and doubts presenting my mother with an beautiful imitation silver plated necklace, that only turned her neck green when she sweated. But she didn’t care it was imitation jewelry. She knew it cost me something, that I labored to give it to her. That I picked it out with her in no mind.

She hugged my neck tightly, whispering “I’ll treasure it always,” but you and I both know what she really meant.

She treasured me, her child, who returned her love, through expression of his own. This is a special memory to me that brings unbelievable happiness. Even now my tears fall thinking of the joy on my mother’s face. Sitting under the stars reliving this memory I am reminded of the woman spoken about in Matthew 26. How she let nothing stop her from lavishing her love upon Jesus. Taking a very expensive perfume, carried in an alabaster jar, she poured it out on the head of her Savior as he reclined at the table. 

Many of those gathered didn’t understand the importance of her actions. The determination of her love to be manifested. They pointed it out as a waste of money. A misuse of her gift.

Jesus corrected them with cause… I encourage you to read the whole story in The Scriptures, Matthew 26 starting in verse 6. 

My message in all of this my friend is that when we love, it takes determination to move it forward. It takes not giving up when we are tempted or caught in a situation that freezes us in our tracks. That love given, costs something.

I have found in my adult life many people have no problem with folks saying I love Jesus. Yet when that love begins to manifest in ways they don’t understand or agree with, they are quick to point it out, even ridiculing what they can’t grasp. Don’t be discouraged. Make today the day you are determined to show love. Make today the day you prove your faith. Make today the day you lavish your perfume upon Jesus, by loving others. All others… He will treasure it!