Completing what we Could

"There came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on His head... And Jesus said... She hath wrought a good work on Me... She hath done what she COULD: she is come aforehand to anoint My body to the burying... Simon, sleepest thou?  COULDEST not thou watch one hour?" (Mark 14:3-8,37). 

A woman came with precious oil

And poured it on our Savior's head. 

The Lord commended then her toil

Though others scolded her instead.

There was a time she could anoint,

And soon a time when she could not.

The Lord then emphasized that point,

Declaring "good" what she had wrought. 

There was a time of grace and power

When Peter COULD have been awake

To pray when tempted in that hour;

Have not we made the same mistake? 

O may we seek our calling's prize

To find the pleasure of our Savior,

Approved as "good" in Jesus' eyes

In thought, in word, and in behavior.  

O Lord, we've heard Your commendation

Of this dear woman's work called "good."

We thank You for this illustration

Of one You said did what she could.

So may You find us, likewise, Lord,

Completing what we could perform,

As Simon Peter, when restored,

Could weather persecution's storm. 

Lord, as we seek to do Your pleasure

And see the harvest not complete,

We'd labor for the souls You treasure

As yet we can with ready feet.