Inching my way toward Martha
by adustyframe ~ November 3rd, 2008I have been just plain busy lately. Especially since Lee’s release.
Being a wife and caring for and serving my husband isn’t easy when we don’t live together.
I am so thankful that I can care for him in small ways, but at the same time it’s just not as simple as it would be if he were home.
I realized the other day that I need to sit down with my schedule again and pray about the things I’m doing. I was feeling overwhelmed and prayed and distinctly heard a still small voice say, “You are too busy.”
I need to pray about our budget too and ask God to show me where to make it work better.
I’ve felt quite often that I’m always running around putting out fires and not accomplishing the things I really want to do.
Today, James and I went to the Y to exercise and as I was walking laps in the pool, I prayed. I asked the Lord to show me what to do, what to change, what to say yes or no to.
As I prayed this immediately came to mind, “Mary has chosen the better part.”
OOO! I’ve been having too much Martha in my life right now. I’ve heard a LOT of Martha’s vehemently defend their Martha-ness but I can’t shake the fact that Jesus himself told Mary that she chose the better part.
If you think of me, just pray that God will show me exactly how to trim our budget and our schedules. I don’t want to go back to being Martha.
Here are some other thoughts I’ve shared about Mary and Martha.
November 3rd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I think we all have to be careful NOT to wear our “busy-ness” as a badge of importance. I often ask myself “what am I busy with?”. I do
try to stay on top of things that make life run smoother…..laundry, keeping things picked up….starting every day with devotional time….balance is NOT always easy but it is important to stay focused…and as long as you are open to God’s direction you can accomplish all that He asks you to do.
God Bless, Pam
You’re so right. The “I’m so busy” badge can really be pride and inflated self-importance and we should not allow it in our lives.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I think often of Mary and Martha. I feel like the last two years the Lord has been trying to teach me to pare back, simplify, and make room for the most important things in my life.
I am always amazed at HOW MUCH we take on ourselves while crowding out the things we say are so important to us.
November 4th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I know we all have the same issues with that, and it’s nice to hear someone else say it too. I have a book titled, Having a Mary heart in a Martha world. It’s great. At the time that I read it first, the only chance I got to read it was when I would babysit and the kids were in bed. It really helped. I think I should get it out again. Thanks for the blog, I needed the reminder.
I’ve read that book before. They had some good points.
November 4th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I’m currently working on scheduling my holiday stuff so that I can enjoy the season as much as possible, so I understand the ease with which we can slip into way too busy. Good luck.
It’s too easy isn’t it?
November 7th, 2008 at 1:38 am
How funny….I pray in the pool too!!! Great minds think alike.