John 12:7

Probably Jesus meant that the disciples should permit Mary to keep the custom of anointing for burial since Jesus’ burial was not far away. There is no indication that Mary realized that Jesus would die soon any more than the other disciples did. However she was anointing Jesus out of love, as mourners anointed the bodies of loved ones who had died. It was not uncommon to do this at lavish expense. Jesus viewed her act as a pre-anointing for His death, though Mary may not have viewed it as such (cf. John 11:51). If she did, perhaps this is why she did not go to Jesus’ tomb with the other women to anoint His body.

It is a good idea to express our love for people we appreciate to them before they die. Flowers at a funeral are nice, but flowers before the funeral are even better.