Luke 10:38-42 (New International Version, ©2011)
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
What is better than my firstborn snuggling up next to me on the couch, enjoying late morning quiet. Or my toddler dancing happily to music playing from the baby swing? Or my newborn wriggling as close as possible while we lay on the bed that I open my eyes to a tiny button nose touching mine?
But I get upset about many things….the loads of laundry waiting, my white sock unworthy floors, the incessant yapping of our dog, that as of yet unidentified thing that is making my car reek…
Don’t you care, Lord, about all that needs to be accomplished? And it is never finished. The same messes come tomorrow that are here today.
If I sit at your feet all day, sit with the Little Ones you’ve given me, talk with the Man you’ve given me…when is supper cooked, the toys put away, chaos subdued?
Did Martha struggle with the same lies in her head that I do? Cleanliness is next to godliness. If you’re house isn’t up to par, then you are validating the stereotype of stay at home moms who simply sit on the couch all day watching soap operas and eating chocolate. If your life and household aren’t squeaky clean with made from scratch meals daily, then you are not managing as God intended wives to.
Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.
When I’m running non-stop, refusing to sit and “live” because of all the “stuff” that needs to be done, I’m not hearing Jesus.
Be still and know that I am God. Being still is so hard when you’re powered by lies that insist on hurrying, busyness, and perfection.
Maybe if Martha had slowed and listened to Jesus, he would have expressed exactly what he expected of her, the most important things to be done at that moment. Am I not just like her, springing into action each morning, running through my agenda and jumping once again into a pool of lies that makes demand after demand of me and my time, instead of first sitting at His feet…listening, trusting, entering into life.
And then, throughout the day, when the Master whispers to me to calm, hand him my stress, play with the children, and put the next task to be finished down, don’t I ignore his promptings, insisting that I’m doing all the work and doesn’t anyone notice and won’t anyone help me?
When I do that, I’m turning down life, joy, peace……the one thing that is truly needed.
