Listen

“She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.”

“’Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”

Luke 10:39-40a, 41-42

I have been upset and worried about many things lately. I’m not sure why I keep waiting for the day when I have nothing to be worried and upset about, or a day when there aren’t preparations that have to be made. I can relate to Martha.

But Jesus didn’t seem bothered that Martha was busy or getting things done. The words that stuck out to me as I read this morning were: listening and distracted.

Mary was listening and Martha was distracted. Jesus didn’t address the fact that one was sitting and one was preparing. He seems more concerned about that fact that Martha was worried and upset and distracted and Mary was peaceful and paying attention to what he was saying.
I try to have a regular quiet time. But I’ll be honest, it doesn’t happen every day! I can’t always pause life to sit quietly to listen.

But I CAN listen. I can determine not to let what worries me DISTRACT me from who my Savior is and the peace and wisdom he gives in the midst of all of my preparations. Today as I do what the day presents to me, I am going to try to listen. I’ll listen as I cook, as I drive, as I clean, as I answer emails, as I wait to see doctors with my son, etc.

And the peace and strength he gives as I listen cannot be taken away from me.

Let’s face it, laundry and dishes have to be done, little runny noses have to be wiped, appointments have to be kept, work has to be done! But in it all there is a Savior who is nearer than our next breath and longs to give perspective and peace!

The question is: Are we listening?

Angela