Visiting someone special

Your cousins are coming to visit! You're very excited. You really like them, but you hardly ever get to see them -- so you tell all your other friends, "I can't play with you. I'm busy today!"

Jesus would understand how you feel about visiting with special people. In this week's Gospel (Mark 14:1-15), His friends learn how special it is to visit with Jesus.

Jesus was at dinner when a woman came in with a bottle of expensive perfume. To show she loved Jesus, she poured the perfume on His head. The men at dinner were angry. "Why did she waste it?" one said. "It could have been sold, and all that money given to the poor!" But Jesus wasn't angry. "Leave her alone," He said. "The poor will always be here, and you can help them whenever you wish. But you won't always have me here."

When your cousins visit, it doesn't mean you like your other friends any less. You just want to spend time with your cousins instead, because they're special. You know they won't be there to play with for long.

The woman Jesus met felt the same way. She loved Jesus as much as you love your cousins, and she was excited to see Him! She didn't forget that there were poor people who needed her help, too; but she wanted to spend some time with another special person: Jesus.

When it's time for your cousins to leave, you might feel a little sad. You hug and promise to write letters to each other until the next time they visit. The woman in the Gospel story wanted to make a promise to Jesus, too. She knew He would be going home to heaven soon, so instead of hugging Him, she gave Him some expensive perfume. In her own way, the woman was telling Jesus just what you tell your cousins: "Goodbye! I'll miss you! Keep in touch!"

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, teach me to remember you as often as I remember my cousins! Amen.

(03-20-97)

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