Be a MARY in a MARTHA WORLD

da-da-DING!! DING-DING!!!!!!...
...da-da-DING!! DING-DING!!!!!!

Susan's alarm clock mercilessly exploded with noise before the neighbor's rooster even had time to think about which fence post he would crow from that morning. As she rolled over, her tired body pleaded for the sun to delay it's arrival...just this once?! But, reality told her that the day was beginning and it's tasks were definitely not going to wait long for her to snap out of this lazy mode, so she'd best get up and going.

Slowly, she stepped out of bed onto the wood floor. Brrrrr...the coolness of the smooth slats under her bare feet served as a reminder that another bristly winter was soon to settle over the Wisconsin land she so proudly claimed as her home. As she straightened the bed sheets and covered them with a beautiful star patterned quilt, she let her fingers trace over the hand stitched pattern along the colorful cloth blocks. "How did great-grandmother ever find the time to stitch this delicate pattern?" she wondered aloud. "I barely had the time to hand quilt two potholders last summer! Ah well, things were so different back then. These days, I'm lucky if I get 5 minutes to just..." Ring-ring!! Susan's voice trailed off as her cell phone began ringing.

It was her boss calling. And a phone call that early in the day could only mean one thing. Sure enough, turns out someone had just called in sick, so Susan was needed to come in a couple hours early. Taking a deep breath and swallowing her frustration, she quickly readied herself for the long day ahead, grabbed her already packed lunch box from the refrigerator, and scooted out the front door.

Feeling thankful that she had a 15-minute drive to work, Susan took advantage of these few quiet moments and listened to a few Scriptures on CD and breathed a hurried prayer, asking for the grace and strength to make it through the day. And it's a good thing she did, too, because upon arriving at the office, she had not opportunity to even think about anything else than the mounds of paperwork and the various personalities that surrounded her at every turn. And goodness! Did she have quite the day, too! The copy machine broke down during an important project, there were two lengthly meetings her boss requested that she attend, and to top it all off, Susan discovered that a report she was working on had been due yesterday!

Despite the mishaps and inconveniences, Susan managed to survive the workday, and left the office with a smile -though pasted- on her face and a determination that she would complete the busyness of that day before allowing herself to totally collapse in a worn out heap.

And busy she was! Susan's first stop that afternoon was at the local nursing home where an elderly church member was staying for a few weeks while allowing his broken leg to heal. After she was done there, she ran some errands to buy groceries and a few Sunday School supplies. Thinking that she would quickly drop off the supplies on her way home, she stopped at the church, only to find herself become engaged in a conversation with one of the fellow members there. It's always nice to chit-chat, but for Susan that day, it was the last thing she wanted to be doing. By the time she returned home, exhaustion was clearly seen on her face. However, her day was not yet done.

Later that evening, Susan attended a birthday party for a friend in the Youth Group, and then finally returned home at a very late hour. As her tired body slumped into bed that night, she felt overwhelmed, yet too tired to even cry. Why did she always feel so exhausted at the end of the day? Surely she had been productive today and spent a large portion of her 'free time' ministering to others. So if what she was doing was good, why did it wear her out? As she drifted off to sleep, she thought about how good it was that she was still a single young woman. Trying to accomplish a day like today and be a wife/mother was just too much to try and comprehend. She'd cross that bridge when she got there.

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The above story is fictional, but I must admit that most days it is a direct reflection of my lifestyle. I am a single woman with a big heart, a vast array of interests, and a wide imagination. The fast-paced world in which we live today gives opportunities for me to become involved in so many activities, projects, and groups. But I'm learning that even when a person limits his interests to the Church and its ministry, a balanced lifestyle must still be had as well.

Consider the words which Jesus spoke to Martha in Luke 10:41-42, when she complained about having to do so much work while her sister, Mary, sat and seemingly relaxed at the feet of Jesus. He said, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Wow - the good part that will not be taken away? My dear reader-friends, when I picture Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, I see a person much like you or I opening our souls, the very innermost part of our beings, and allowing Him to gently fill us with everlasting peace...comfort...strength. The cares and duties of this life will ever be present; we must accomplish them. Yet, how much easier would these be if we would first allow ourselves to be encouraged by our Lord? We would not expect our automobiles to travel long distances without first filling them with gasoline, so likewise we should not allow ourselves to embark on a new day's journey without taking part in that one thing which is needful.

Even now as I type this post and my mind is flooded with all that is required of me, I am sensing the sweet calling of Someone greater than I. "Come unto me...and I will give you rest...learn of me...and ye shall find rest for your souls."

AAhhhh!! You mean leave what I'm doing?! What if things fly out of control while I'm gone?!

Sometimes it's hard for me to think of sitting still and being quiet in the middle of the day. It seems I am constantly surrounded by people -big and little- and that if I turn away one moment a need is being neglected. Yet even as I minister to others each day, I believe that Jesus wants to minister to me. He wants to minister to you! I'm sure that He's smiling as we go about His business here on earth, but how much more pleased He must be when we take the time to have fellowship with Him. Ah, the refreshing that only comes from being in the Presence of Jesus!

Sigh...I must learn to be a MARY in a MARTHA WORLD. I must become more interested in that which is needful, not becoming troubled with so many things. I have found that Jesus is always ready to bless and refresh me whenever I decide to have a quiet time of rest. Even if it's just a mini-moment while the girls are playing in the other room and I am washing dishes...every moment alone with Jesus is precious, and should be treated as such.

Here's a thought: God's promises are true, right? And therefore they can be deemed as everlasting, right? Okay, so when we read this well known passage in Matthew chapter 12, we have before us the promise that God will continually provide rest for our souls!! Do you see it? God is not slack concerning His promises. He's not going to run out of 'rest' for our souls.

So the next time you find yourself smack-dab in the middle of a busy, weary day, remind yourself of His promise. Go to Jesus and take a dose of 'rest' for your soul. I'll be doing the same.