Do thy duty, that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

She did what she could. Mark 14:8

When her friends say thoughtless or outrageous things on social media, Charlotte chimes in with gentle but firm dissent. She respects the dignity of everyone, and her words are unfailingly positive.

A few years ago she became Facebook friends with a man who harbored anger toward Christians. He appreciated Charlotte’s rare honesty and grace. Over time his hostility melted. Then Charlotte suffered a bad fall. Now housebound, she fretted over what she could do. About that time her Facebook friend died and then this message arrived from his sister: “[Because of your witness] I know he’s now experiencing God’s complete and abiding love for him.”

During the week in which Christ would be killed, Mary of Bethany anointed Him with expensive perfume (John 12:3; Mark 14:3). Some of those present were appalled, but Jesus applauded her. “She has done a beautiful thing to me,” He said. “She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial” (Mark 14:6–8).

“She did what she could.” Christ’s words take the pressure off. Our world is full of broken, hurting people. But we don’t have to worry about what we can’t do. Charlotte did what she could. So can we. The rest is in His capable hands.

Lord, help us not to define our self-worth by what we do for You, but by what You have done for us. Show us how we can show Your love to others.

只要尽你的本分，其余的事全交给主。

她所做的，是尽她所能的。-马可福音14章8节

每当嘉乐看到朋友在社群媒体上，说一些不经思考或蛮横无理的话时，她总会温和坚定地提出异议。她尊重每一个人，而且说话总是积极正面。

几年前，嘉乐在社群网站上结交了一位男性朋友，他讨厌基督徒但却欣赏嘉乐少见的直白和宽容。随着时间过去，这位男士对基督徒的敌意也逐渐消失。后来，嘉乐不小心摔伤了，以致无法出门。正当她苦恼自己什么都不能做时，却得知这位社群网站上的朋友过世了，但他的姐姐传来讯息：“因为妳的见证，我知道他如今在上帝那里，享受着完全且恒久的爱。”

在耶稣将要受难的那一周，伯大尼的马利亚用昂贵的香膏膏抹耶稣（约翰福音12章3节；马可福音14章3节） 。当时有些在场的人反对这种作法，但耶稣却赞赏她：“她在我身上做的是一件美事……她所做的，是尽她所能的；她是为我安葬的事，把香膏预先浇在我身上。”（马可福音14章6-8节）

“她所做的，是尽她所能的。”的确，基督的这句话除去了许多压力。世界上有许多心灵破碎和忧伤的人，但我们不必因我们能力有限而懊恼。嘉乐做了她能做的，我们也当如此，其余的事就交托在基督大能的手中。

主啊，求祢帮助我们，让我们知道自己的价值
不在于能为祢做多少事，乃在于祢为我们所成就的。
求祢让我们知道如何让人看见祢的爱。

Mark 14:3-9New International Version (NIV)

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you,[b]and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

整理：于姊妹