Today, not Tomorrow

"She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying." Mark 14:8

       Many people would have kept the jar of perfume until Jesus was dead, and would then have broken it to anoint his cold body. At least, that is the way too many of us do in these days. We wait until our friend dies—and then send our flowers and speak our words of appreciation.

      Should we not learn a lesson from Mary? The kind words we mean to speak when our friends are dead—let us speak while they can hear them! The flowers we mean to send for their coffin—let us send to brighten the rough paths for their feet. The epitaphs we mean to put upon white marble—let us carve in deeds of gentle love while our friends are with us. Words of cheer today—are what people crave.
     "Withhold all eulogies when I am dead, All noisy sorrow;Give me the tender word today Instead of tears tomorrow."
(JR Miller)