As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” —Luke 10: 38-42 (NLT)
As I prepare for the coming of the Christ Child this Advent season, I find it easy to lose my focus. How about you? I even vowed to not get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season this year and to put the emphasis on preparing my heart rather than my home. I broke that vow yesterday when I came a bit unglued. It wasn’t so much due to Christmas preparations, but I believe they were certainly part of the equation. There were other stressors on my plate that were keeping me from those preparations.
The Lord brought the story of Martha and Mary to mind in the midst of it. Are you a Martha or Mary? I’d say I am about 99% Martha and 1% Mary. That could be a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the idea. I am all about getting my ducks lined up! The problem is I don’t handle it very well when they fall out of alignment. And they do. Often. Can you relate?
My favorite doctor has me monitoring my pH level these past few weeks. If it is out of balance it can wreak havoc on a person’s health. Stress is one thing that can throw it out of balance and appears to be the major player in my case. Each time my pH reading indicates a lack of balance I can hear Jesus whispering, “Remember, there is only one thing worth being concerned about, Polly.” That reminder doesn’t just apply to these busy days of December, but each and every day.
Because God’s mercies are new each day (Lamentations 3:23) I have the opportunity to renew my vow and be more like Mary today. If you have also lost your focus amidst the busyness of the season, I would like to invite you to join me. Let’s vow to keep our focus and prepare our hearts for the celebration of the birth of our Savior!
My pH reading after writing this—a perfect 7.0. Balance is good!
I was just reminding myself of this very thing. My kids are like my pH readers, I just need to look into their faces to see if mommy is being Mary or Martha. It’s crazy that it is so hard to experience the peace of this season because of all the “obligations” of this time of year. I love the scripture you shared. Only one thing is worth our concern. I want to be at His feet. Listening. Learning. Basking in His love and sharing His peace, love and joy with those around me. May His peace be in you, dear one!
Such a great reminder especially with our celebration of Christ’s birth just around the corner. Thank-you Polly I really need to be reminded this year of what really matters. Your words are so timely and as always beautifully expressed.