I’m being like Martha when I need to be so much more like Mary.
But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” (Luke 10:40)
It has been one of those mornings. Seems like I’ve been going since my feet touched the ground this morning. Piles of dishes and laundry, muddy floors, hungry kiddos, dogs, errands that need to be run. Okay, just do it. Right? One thing at a time until it’s all done. I can do this. But, soon I’m tired, hungry, grumpy and thinking to myself; it’s only 10:30 in the morning! It’s then that a song comes on the radio, Breathe by Jonny Diaz. I stop mid-thought and turn the radio up and listen to the words:
Artwork by Vanessa Tegenkamp
Alarm clock screaming bare feet hit the floor
It’s off to the races everybody out the door
I’m feeling like I’m falling behind, it’s a crazy life
Ninety miles an hour going fast as I can
Trying to push a little harder trying to get the upper hand
So much to do in so little time, it’s a crazy life
It’s ready, set, go it’s another wild day
When the stress is on the rise in my heart I feel You say just
Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at My feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe
The words of this song bring the images of Luke 10:40 to my mind. Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to his words. Meanwhile, Martha is distracted by the chaos. This morning, I’m Martha.
I’m distracted by my to-do list. I’m angry that it’s only me to do it all. I open my Bible to that familiar story and read Jesus’ response to Martha in Luke 10:41-42.
And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
In my heart I hear the Spirit say, “Jenny, Jenny you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed.” And the words of that song, Breathe – “just breathe come and rest at My feet.”
This morning, I had done my “quiet time”, the five minutes that I set aside each day to read and pray, another item I had added to my to-do list . The desire of my heart should not be to simply check off my time with God each day as something I accomplished along with the laundry and errands. Like Mary, I should want to sit at His feet. My to-do list is temporary, but my relationship with Jesus is eternal. It cannot be taken away from me. With the help of the Spirit today, I was reminded of this great truth.
Father,
Thank you for the gift of Your Holy Spirit. Thank you for Your Word and for the words of that song, Breathe. I am so glad my heart and ears were open to what You wanted me to hear today. Open my heart everyday. I pray that I hear your voice above everything else that calls for my attention during the day. May I find time everyday to rest at Your feet because You are worthy of all my attention and praise.
Amen
Here’s the lyric video for the song that Jenny mentions in her post: