A humble woman prays

The Visit

Your neighbor and her children came for a visit to share Christmas cookies and thus the Christmas spirit. It was a short (very important this busy time of year), uplifting and delicious event. You had pulled out milk and brewed some coffee on the Keurig. A fun visit indeed!

From happy to OH MAN!

After they left and the kids ran back to watch Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, you picked up the mugs and then you saw it. How long has it been there? Who else has seen this? The dreaded spider web! The confirmation that you will not win the Housekeeper of the Year Award. Your shoulders droop and the jolly Christmas spirit just left the room.

Martha, Let’s step back.

The Lord’s Visit

Luke 10:38-42 rsv

Jesus Visits Martha and Mary

³⁸ Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; ⁴² one thing is needful.^[e] Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

The Choice is Yours!

It is important to us and our family to have a comforting and nurturing home but let’s not forget we need a balance in life. A balance of caring for others, serving as the Lord calls us, and taking care of the nurturing and health of our family. That includes taking care of you!

We have all missed clearing spider webs before. You are not alone. But let’s not miss what the Lord was telling Martha and us. The good portion, the important part, is to not get so overwhelmed with shopping, housework, cooking, decorating for Christmas, throwing the perfect party or taking the “Best” dish to a Christmas event that you miss the awesomeness and joy of the celebration of Christ’s birth.

When we get upset, angry, resentful, a “victim” or not as good as someone else, your attention is being taken away from the good portions in this life. We waste time and energy stewing over the negative, what people are thinking, why I am not good enough and negatives in this life. Instead of the negatives, stop and turn to a positive invoking item, Christmas lights, music, pictures including the art hanging on the refrigerator. Whatever brings you back to the blessings that God has given you. Plus people love being around a pleasant, authentic person who is not stressed out and spewing the negative to others. Be that Marvelous Martha that the Lord knows is in us all.

I have a magical word that reminds me to flip from the negative Martha emotions to the cheerful me that I want to share with others, and feel in myself. My word is “Click”. Click means girl get out of there. The more you click the easier the change will happen. What is your word?

Let us pray:

Our loving and understanding Lord, Thank you for the reminder that we don’t like being the resentful, negative, Martha. We want to be cheerful, nurturing and loving aka showing our Christ like self to all. Please help me to focus, give my time to the loving, peaceful and compassionate blessings of this life that you gave me. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Amen.