Myrrh is mine, it's bitter perfume ...

Twelve Oils of Ancient Scripture

Yes, I actually purchased something through direct sales. I expressed interest in the essential oils that a friend from church was selling from Young Living, a direct sales company based in Utah. And here's what I sprung for: the Twelve Oils of Ancient Scripture kit, which contains vials of essential oils referenced in the Bible.

The twelve oils are:

1. Aloes/sandalwood
2. cassia
3. cedarwood
4. cypress
5. frankincense
6. galbanum
7. hyssop
8. myrrh
9. myrtle
10. onycha
11. Rose of Sharon/cistus
12. spikenard

Frankincense and myrrh, of course, were among the gifts that the Three Kings gave to the infant Jesus.

The line "Myrrh is mine, it's bitter perfume ..." from We Three Kings of Orient Are alludes to the fact that myrrh was used in embalming and thus presaged Christ's death. Spikenard was referenced in John 12:

1 Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. 2 So they made him a supper there: and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with him. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, that should betray him, saith, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred shillings, and given to the poor? 6 Now this he said, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the bag took away what was put therein. 7 Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying. 8 For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always.

What an appropriate gift for marking the holiday and remembering "the reason for the season." Yes, Christmas is only four days away, but you can extend the holiday to January 6 (Epiphany), which marks the arrival of the Three Kings. You may order Young Living products online or through a Young Living representative.