A woman enters the room with a jar of incredibly expensive perfume—worth a year’s wages.

Without explanation, she breaks the jar and anoints Jesus.

It’s extravagant. Illogical. Wasteful, even.

And some of the disciples say as much.

But Jesus doesn’t call it waste.

He calls it beautiful.

“She has done a beautiful thing to me...

She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.”

While others were preparing for His death through conspiracy,

she was preparing for His death through love.

And what strikes us is the contrast between her and everyone else in the story.

The religious leaders and Judas were stingy—with their money, their power, their theology, and their love.

They didn’t have eyes to see Jesus for who He was.

Their vision was tight, anxious, self-protective.

Jesus once said:

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.

But if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.”

(Matthew 6:22–23)

A healthy eye sees with love.

A stingy eye sees with fear.

And what we see—how we see—shapes what we’re willing to pour out.

So maybe you’re in a season of confusion.

You’re asking: “Am I supposed to let go of this? Or keep tending to it?”

That’s a real and holy question.

Here’s one way to reflect:

Are your eyes closing in—with fear, resentment, frustration, or self-protection?

Or are you looking with eyes of love—open, willing, and ready to pour out?

Because pouring out can take different forms.

This woman poured out perfume.

But she also poured out control.

She poured out her expectations of what Jesus would do next.

And she poured out faith and love, even in uncertainty.

Pouring out can mean letting go of what’s unfruitful.

Pouring out can also mean watering what’s been neglected.

And sometimes, when you’re still not sure whether to move on or stay…

You can still pour out love in the middle of the uncertainty.

You can still choose a generous eye.

You can still worship.

You can still trust the One who sees clearly, even when you don’t.

Wherever you are today, sharing in His lavish love is always a faithful response.

Mindfulness Moment:

Take a deep breath.

Is there something that you’ve been conflicted about... whether you should let it go or tend to it?—

a relationship, a responsibility, a burden, or a longing.

Imagine holding it gently in your hands.

And as you do, just ask:

“What kind of eyes am I seeing this with?”

Is there fear? Tightness? Resentment?

Or openness, trust, and love?

You don’t have to fix it today.

Just let yourself sit with it.

And ask God to help you see it the way He does.

When you’re ready, slowly open your hands.

Offer it to Him again. Receive His love and lavish back on Him.

Let that be your act of worship today.