One of my favorite stories in the Bible is found in Luke, and it's about two sisters - Martha and Mary. In the story, Jesus and his disciples are invited into their home and the two sisters react very differently to their arrival. Martha is described as a busy body, distracted by all that she needs to get done, while Mary simply sits at Jesus's feet to learn from him. Martha then begins to complain to Jesus that she's doing all the work. (As a mom, I can definitely relate!!) But Jesus responds very differently, I'm sure, then what Martha had imagined. He defends Mary, and says that she has chosen to use her time more wisely...Wow, how I wish I could have been there to see Martha's face!
Here is the story directly from the Bible:
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.” (Luke 10)
This story has been on my mind and in my heart lately for a number of reasons.
I think as moms, we can all relate to Martha, right? There's just so much to get done. Especially for working moms - it is the toughest job in the world, no doubt. And sometimes we can get bitter or resentful that your spouse, or your older children, or your neighbor down the street --whoever --- isn't doing as much as you! Sometimes that causes weariness, thinking that the entire weight of the world is on one person's shoulders. I know that when I was working, I felt this way a lot. I constantly felt behind, like I could never catch up on everything that needed to be done in a day. I felt discouraged a lot of the time, and some of the time, I felt just like Martha. I wanted to scream to God, "Look at me - I'm doing everything! I need a break!" And during those times, this story would often come to mind, and I would try to remember that God wants to provide rest for our souls. He wants us to lay at His feet. He wants us to be still.
That's not always easy in today's rat race. In fact, sometimes it seems impossible. If I'm really honest, there were countless days that I failed to spend any time whatsoever with my wonderful Creator. And there were even days where I would get all the way to dinner time with the kids and I would be looking at them wondering "Have I even looked them in the eye today?" That might sound crazy to a lot of people, right? How can you not look your children in the eye? And I hope no one judges me for admitting this. But seriously, there were days when I had to think really hard if I actually looked them in the eye for any length of time. Days where we got up, got dressed in madness (no looking) took Logan to school (no looking), went directly to drop them off at the babysitters (no looking), then came home, made lunch, and while they were eating I would empty the dishwasher or answer work emails (still NO looking).....then nap time, then preparing dinner...and then finally, I would LOOK. I would see my children's beautiful gaze and I'd wonder "Is this the first time today I've actually stopped to look straight into those pretty little eyes?"
But lately, certainly since I've quit working, and even more so since we are not confined to a school bell schedule, I feel as though I have been given the gift of TIME. Time with my kids, time to actually sit on the floor, and watch their eyes sparkle when they pretend to be a princess....time with God, time to pray, time to be still.
Don't get me wrong, there are still plenty of days where Martha is all. up. on. me. and the daily tasks are overwhelming....but thankfully, those days are getting less and less. I'm so grateful to God for that, and to my husband for allowing me to stay home and slow my life down, because really, Mary had it right all along...
