Whenever I hear the names “Martha and Mary,” I have vivid pictures in my head. Growing up as one of four girls, I can relate to the complaining Martha, who wanted her sister to get up and help her.
These two women held opposing jobs when Jesus came to visit. Martha was the overworked hostess; Mary was the attentive listener at Jesus’ feet. And Mary had had chosen the ‘better part.’
As a young girl, I couldn’t understand why Jesus would tell Martha that she was a Nervous Nellie, and that Mary’s choice was perfect. In my family, you got up and pitched in. Jesus and his disciples arrived at the house tired and hungry. Martha could see their needs, so she got moving. What’s wrong with that? To me, it sure looked like Mary was avoiding work.
But now I know there is more going on here than meets the eye. I read a wonderful reflection on this passage. One thing that caught my eye was the label the author used to describe our hardworking sister. “Manic Martha.”
The author thought that Martha’s endless loop of serving meant that she was avoiding something. Hmmm. What an interesting idea. Come to think of it, I can be quite the Manic Martha myself.
When I have to do something I don’t want to do, suddenly my chore list is fascinating reading.
For example, I have a hard time settling down to write.
When it’s time to sit and put some words on paper, I am almost always willing to be distracted. I’ll pay bills, return emails, weed the backyard, take my vitamins, make that doctors appointment, do a load of laundry, answer the phone, make a Starbucks run and look at that! No time left to write. All that motion, invented to avoid the one thing I needed to get accomplished.
Running in my own endless loop, I am taking a pass on being quiet Mary, and choosing instead to become a full-blown Martha.
Jesus never told Martha her work wasn’t important. He told her she was anxious. It was the worry that led her to become swamped in things that could wait. She lost sight of the fact that her place of peace was at Jesus’ feet, just like her sister Mary.
All those little jobs that I got tangled up in were the result of a type of worry too.
It’s hard to write, so instead, I chose the endless chores. I allowed myself to be distracted from the work I needed to do.
So Lord, when it’s time to do the things that I’d rather skip, please send me the Spirit of Mary. Help me not to worry. Calm my mind so I won’t give in to distraction. I have a task to complete, and the laundry can wait.
Linking today with Monday Musings and Hear It On Sunday, Use It On Monday
Linking today with Monday Musings and Hear It On Sunday, Use It On Monday
“Jesus never told Martha her work wasn’t important. He told her she was anxious.”
Those words hit home to me, too. When I’m avoiding a task, I get a lot of other things done.
Hi Lisa! I think we all can relate to Martha, it sure is easy to get anxious.
So glad you liked the post, and I am glad I was able to write it without getting distracted!
Happy Monday!
Ceil
Great insights! It wasn’t Martha’s ACTIONS that were the problem, it was her HEART. Sometimes it is hard for us to discern the difference.
Coming over from What Joy is Mine link-up.
Hi Kate! Thank you for hopping over to read my post!
I agree with your comment, it really distills the point. It is a challenging Scripture, and we all can relate to Martha.
Being able to slow down in the busy times and discern the best path is not easy!
Happy Monday!
Ceil
My dear Ceil, this was a very thought-provoking post. I had never thought of Martha staying busy because maybe she was possibly avoiding something…very interesting. Unfortunately I, too, can be like that. Thanks for writing this and causing me to think about some things – God is so good, my friend!
Love and hugs!
Hi Stephanie! I never thought about Martha being in avoid mode either. I just love reading about new insights. It does make you think!
Thank you for coming here and commenting, my sweet friend!
Hugs to you!
Ceil
I confess to being a Martha at times, fussing about filled with anxiousness. My peace and rest is found when He enters the picture and is a part of all I do whether at work or at rest.
Hi Mindy! You make a good point that we should be at peace even at rest. How many times have I had a restless night? Thank you for your comment!
Happy Monday!
Ceil
Thank you for these words today…how right you are. It’s the heart not the actual work that distracted her….and the anxiety.
Praying for discernment for each of us as we learn to sit at His feet.
Hi Sandra! So nice to see you here! You picked up on the difference, and it took me a while to get that. She just got too involved in her work, and couldn’t see her rightful place.
I do think the answer is prayer, and discernment is such a precious gift. I hope you will mention me in your prayers for that.
Peace in Christ,
Ceil
Dear Ceil
I think the whole world suffers from the Martha syndrome. To be someone we need to be busy, busy all the time, while we do and do and do some more. So much the better when we do it all for Jesus’ Kingdom as if He needs our help to do His work. To earn acceptance, I used to be a very busy Martha. I was quite insecure due to lots of abuse. But our Lord allowed Fm/CFS to change me into a Mary! His thoughts are definitely much higher than ours.
Blessings XX
Mia
Hi Mia! The busyness of life certainly touches many of us. And if we are too occupied, we can’t do his will, because we won’t be able to hear. So true!
How great that you have overcome this tendency, I hope I can be like you someday…Jesus certainly wants me to join you in being a Mary. You have come through a lot of adversity. I’m not sure what Fm/CFS is, I am so sorry. Maybe you could write back and tell me?
Blessings to you too,
Ceil
Ceil, this was such a great take on Martha! I’ve always thought of her as being the ‘busy doer’ not the ‘anxious avoider’… very interesting! I can certainly relate. When there’s something I don’t really want to do, I can find so many ‘important’ things to do instead!
Blessings to you, my friend ~ Mary
Hi Mary! Good to hear from you again! This idea of Martha’s anxiety was new to me too, but what a wonderful new way to see the Scripture passage. It’s so relatable, because I can delay work like no other.
God is so good to allow us to get a little more insight into our behavior
Hope you have a blessed Tuesday!
Ceil
Ceil: I also had not thought of Martha doing all that running and prepping because she wanted to avoid something. I now wonder if she had a lot of energy because she was nervous about the Master coming. You have a good blog entry here.
Hi Cecelia! I like your idea that Martha was so nervous about Jesus coming. I had always thought that Jesus’ visit surprised her. Hmmm…another good thing to think about. Thank you for that new angle!
I am so glad you liked the post. It’s fun to find new ways to interpret Scripture.
Thank you for visiting here! You are such a faithful blog sister
Ceil
Interesting perspective on Martha, Ceil – I think you are on to something! I hope your plants are feeling better now that you are home to tend to them! Have a blessed week!
Hi June! How nice of you to come by to read this post! It is an interesting, new way to think about poor Martha. She does get the short end of the stick a lot.
I am running about 50/50 on the plant front. It’s so sad
Thank you for asking about them, that’s so sweet!
Have a wonderful Tuesday!
Ceil
Ceil, I also have had a hard time stopping and writing this summer. Everything has been moving in slow motion.
All the deep reason’s of Mary and Martha still cause me to think I can relate to both of these women.
Really a good post! Thanks!
I hope you have a wonderful week…
Blessings, Roxy
Hi Roxy! Thank you for sharing about your troubles writing, it’s nice to know that I am not the only one. I’m not sure why it’s like that for me; but I think writing still intimidates me.
Thank you for your encouraging words about the post, I am so glad you liked it. I hope you have a great week too, and maybe this week we will both have an easier time sitting down to write (that would be nice!).
Blessings to you,
Ceil
Ceil, I had to chuckle at this post, not because it’s funny (well, it is) but because it’s so true–at least for me. How ironic, the desire I truly have is to sit and write, to listen and be with Jesus, but so many times I’ll invent everything else to do instead. Thank you for your honest words!
Hi Jody Lee! Oh, chuckle away my SDG friend, I am just glad there is another person who goes through the silly avoidance maneuvers I do!
Thank you for coming over to visit!
Happy Tuesday!
Ceil
Hi! Thanks for droppibg by at my blog. So nice to know you too:)
Your message is for me too. A great reminder. Keep sharing sister!
Hi Joy! What a lovely name you have!
Thank you for coming over to read the post, and joining the blog here too. Looking forward to getting to know you better!
Peace in Christ,
Ceil
Ceil, thank you for visiting me. It is so nice to meet new friends and to read interesting posts.
I’ve always felt a bit sorry for Martha, felt she was a bit misunderstood. But then I can get into that round of ‘busyness’ too, and that’s when I need to learn to stop.
Hi Elizabethd! I do like meeting new blog friends, and I am so happy that we can get to know each other better now! I think we all struggle with the Busy Martha thing, but we are learning, right?
So glad you liked the post
Happy Tuesday!
Ceil
I am so glad you left a note on my blog so I could discover your writings too. I think we have a lot in common. Any friend of Henri Nouwen is a friend of mine. LOL. I did read on your other post about seeing his favorite painting. Isn’t that a wonderful book? Anyway loved reading your words about Mary and Martha and will definitely return to read more again.
Hi Jean! What a pleasure to meet you! And we used the same image for our posts too…I didn’t realize that until today, honest! LOL!
I am so glad you liked the post and I have the feeling that we will be friends for a long time. How welcoming you are! I am so happy that God led me to your blog today. He is awesome
It IS a wonderful book…I love the way Nouwen writes. Like you are his best friend.
Happy Tuesday!
Ceil
Hi Ceil,
I really like your blog! I do wish I was more like the Martha type… at times…maybe someday I will be able to find the happy medium!
Have a blessed week!
Hi Debby Ray! It was so fun to see your blog too…I just loved your backsplash, it looked antique; amazing!
So good to meet you. I hope you will visit here often, and we will get to know each other better
Peace,
Ceil
Hi Ceil,
Thanks for stopping by. I really enjoyed this post!! So, it was the worry that did Martha in–not all the activity. Very interesting perspective.
Just like you, I can find a million things to do instead of the one thing I set out to do, especially if it challenges me in anyway.
Blessings Friend,
Janis
Hi Janis! It’s always good to visit your blog, and see you here too!
It is an interesting perspective and I thought it was a good one. Thank you for making feel like I am not the only one who practices avoidance…I am realizing it’s more common that I thought!
Happy Wednesday!
Ceil
Great post, Ceil, and great to come and visit with you here. I’ve signed up to follow along on your journey.
Hi Dayle! I am so happy to meet new blog friends! Thank you for coming over and joining the blog, how generous of you
Thank you too for your encouraging post, it’s so nice to know that you liked what you saw.
I look forward to getting to know you better; I joined your blog!
Ceil
Great reflections on that passage! Loved reading what you learned and took away from it =)
Hi Natalie! So good to see you! Thank you so much for your comment, I really enjoyed learning something new about our old friends, Mary and Martha.
Glad you did too
Blessings on this happy Wednesday!
Ceil
Hi Ceil, thanks for stopping by my blog today
I really like what you’ve got here — good stuff!
a while ago I did a word study on the word Jesus used about Mary’s choice — He called it needful and necessary. When you look in Strong’s to see where else this word is used in the Bible, it is usually a life-threatening situation, a sick person needs a doctor, or a starving person needs food. That’s the attitude we need about sitting at our Lord’s feet!
Keep up the good work here, blessings to you.
-Barbara at wingabouts.blogspot.com
Hi Barbara! It was so nice to meet you today, and how fun that you ‘joined’ me here on the blog! Welcome!
Thank you for sharing what you learned in your study. I had no idea the word that Jesus used meant ‘life-threatening’. But you are right, we need to go to his feet with that kind of urgency.
Looking forward to knowing you better
Ceil
Amen, amen.
Hi Denise! Thank you so much for stopping by today and commenting on Mary and Martha.
Happy Thursday!
Ceil
I loved your prayer at the end. I am very much a Martha. I used to feel irritated that Mary was always held in such high esteem and thought, “Well somebody has to make dinner.” The Lord is still teaching me from this story.
Hi Elizabeth! I am right with you, as I wrote in the post. What was wrong with what Martha was doing?
I love the new insights to the passages we know so well. How great that you do too! Thanks for coming by and adding your comments. Always good to see you
Peace in Christ,
Ceil
hello Ceil, thank you for finding me.
I have a sister and I’m more like Mary but i think Mary in a bad way, she told me that im not helping much at household chores. I got angry and told her, i felt like you are counting your good deeds that’s why you are irritated with me. It never occurred to me that maybe she is avoiding something but nah i dont think so. We were both hurt by our words. And we were quiet for 20 minutes(realization). And then okay after that.
I look forward to reading your blog(a bit busy), it looks like there’s so much wisdom here
Hi Sheena! It’s always fun to meet new blog friends. I hope you will come back sometime when you are not so busy.
It’s hard sometimes to overcome bad feelings, but you two are such good sisters! Twenty minutes, and you are friends again. I know some countries that could use your wise ways
Hope you have a blessed week! So great to meet you!
Ceil
Ceil, I really loved your post. It was a heart issue wasn’t it. He still wants us to be hard workers but He wants our heart. I am blessed to have access to such wisdom on my journey, thank you. Tara.