Are you a Mary or a Martha?

I found myself rolled over with belly laughs last week.   It was a totally unplanned and spontaneous family moment, we were watching a family favorite, Duck Dynasty, and could not stop laughing.  After the show was over the laughter did not end.  That spirit of joy was still alive in our living room. 

Then after school this week I looked out back and Mr. Determined was creating a "zip line" with a hanger and some string.  It made me smile. Inside and out.  Times like this are not planned.  They happen.

As my family is planning the final month of the school year and scheduling the different summer activities, I always ask myself:  How do I  create an atmosphere of some down time, some structured time, maybe even a little vacation time.  It can be a little overwhelming.  Then I get going with my list and I get in my planning mode.  I am focused, I am determined, I will make this summer FUN!

It reminds me of the story of when Jesus visits Mary and Martha, Luke 10:38-42 "Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ ⁴¹But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; ⁴²there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

There are so many times that I am Martha in this story.  I am buzzing around making sure this is done, and that is done, when really I need to be sitting and listening to the ones that I love.  I need to be putting Christ first.  I need to be living out my faith.  It is when we are buzzing around that we miss the quiet moments that are so very important.  It is when we don't participate in the belly laughs; we are too busy planning the next activity.  

Perspective:  Focus on what matters most in your life and structure you days around that.  Remember that we as parents model how our children live out their life and their faith story.  So, take some time and be a Mary!

See you on Sunday!

-Kim