If you’ve been following along on our journey through The Jesus Storybook Bible during Lent, welcome back. Today I’m sharing how the Bear painted a mason jar to create a reed diffuser diy to help us better understand the story of the sinful woman anointing Jesus, “Washed with Tears” (Mark 14/Luke 7/John 12). Read on to find out how to create your own scented oil reed diffuser with your kids. It was a fun interactive art project for the Bear, and now he gets to enjoy the essential oils diffusing in his room. Mason jar reed diffusers make a fabulous child made gift for mother’s day or grandparents.
You could use any glass jar for this project, but we choose a small mason jar. I set up a painting station in our water/sensory table with acrylic paint and foam brushes. I let the Bear have free reign painting the jar and lid, and he was so proud of the results.
While the jar dried, we read “Washed with Tears” from the Jesus Storybook Bible. In the story, a woman with a bad reputation interrupts a dinner Jesus is having with a group of religious leaders. She brings in a jar of pure nard in an alabaster jar, worth a year’s salary. She breaks the jar and anoints Jesus’ feet with the oil, and washes them with her tears and her hair. It was her treasure, everything precious she owned, and she laid it on Jesus’ feet. Just like Samuel anointing David, she anointed Jesus. The room was filled with perfume and Jesus saw right to her heart. He tells the religious leaders that they have sinful hearts, and tells the woman her sins are forgiven. I love this story so much because of how God uses the faith of woman known for her sin to prepare Jesus and his body for the cross. There is so much more to it than perfume and tears.
We added one fourth cup carrier oil (olive, grapeseed, coconut) and ten drops of essential oil. Since this one is in the Bear’s room, we used lavender and Peace & Calming. Both help him to calm down and sleep, and will be gently diffused through the reeds. We also added a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol to help everything disperse. We added the reeds and then put the jar high on a shelf, where he can see it but not reach it. Kids should only use essential oils under close supervision. He can see the jar and the smell fills his room. We talked about how he made a special treasure jar just the woman had to remind him of how Jesus sees his heart and loves him because of what is on the inside. He forgives our sins and wants to have a relationship with us.
Be sure to check out our other Jesus Storybook Bible posts here, and find the entire Jesus Storybook Bible Interactive Play Series here.
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