The Good Part ~ Guest Entry

            This is not a normal guest entry in that I am writing it with the guest.  The guest is my sister, and she and I discovered that she and I battle with some of the same things as wives.  So this topic we have chosen is one that we both have experience to write from.

            This topic has to do with the “Martha and Mary” approach.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with what that means, here’s a Scripture reference about Martha and Mary, and my sister and I will explain how our situations relates to this. 

            ^“And it came to pass, in their going on, that he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman, by name Martha, did receive him into her house, and she had also a sister, called Mary, who also, having seated herself beside the feet of Jesus, was hearing the word, and Martha was distracted about much serving, and having stood by him, she said, `Sir, dost thou not care that my sister left me alone to serve? say then to her, that she may partake along with me.'  And Jesus answering said to her, `Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and disquieted about many things, but of one thing there is need, and Mary the good part did choose, that shall not be taken away from her.'” (Luke 10:38-42 YLT)

            My sister, Breanna: One of the parts that really jumps out at me in this passage is that “Martha was distracted about much serving.”  It can be very easy to lose focus in our lives and in relationships and to become distracted with things that are not a priority.  I know that for myself, one of the things I struggle with is feeling stressed about the things that might fit into the category of serving: keeping the house clean, doing the dishes and laundry, and making meals (those physical, tangible tasks that allow you to easily see the results).  These are all tasks that need to be accomplished, but if they take your focus to the point of you becoming “anxious and disquieted” (I think those are meaningful words that Jesus chose~ he did not intend for us to live that way), they have probably begun to take over in our lives.  My husband often reminds me how much it means to him to have me as his companion in life and how important it is to him that I stay positive and maintain a good attitude.  I have recently noticed that when I get “worked up” or “anxious and disquieted” about tasks around the house that I justify as “serving” him, that it brings him down.  The most important thing (“the good part” that Mary chose) is relationship~ to be there for those you love, to prioritize time together, listening, support, and companionship.

            Lindsey (me): My husband prefers that I am stress-free and peaceful.  It is “the good part.”  Priorities are so important, and it may be hard to settle for what Jesus prioritizes because it is not tangible, and I feel that if I have something to show for my time during the day while my husband is out is more satisfactory to me.  “But of one thing there is need…” said Jesus.  After the 40 days of fasting, Jesus quoted Scripture to fight Satan’s temptations.  I wonder if, when I am tempted to act on feelings that “I have to have something to show for my time,” or simply, “gotta work work work,” I could quote the words of the Wonderful Counselor (Jesus): “But of one thing there is need..” ?