The sweet sounds of Christmas carols filled the air. The grocery store’s music reminded me of the upcoming season. In year’s past, the reminder overwhelmed me.
For the woman of the house, the to-do list is endless:
Menu planning.
Grocery shopping.
Cooking.
Cleaning.
Baking.
Pinning ideas.
Crafting.
Decorating.
Floral arranging.
Preparing the guest room.
Buying gifts.
Finding music.
Cleaning again.
With the holidays coming, it’s time to get your inner Martha Stewart on! But do our hearts do it merrily?
In my first decade of marriage, as a young wife and mother, the holidays always posed a challenge: how to get it all done. How to make certain everyone stamped a Hallmark moment memory on that year.
As the woman of the house, isn’t that our responsibility?
In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus’ friend Martha seemed to think so! Martha was quite overcome with company preparations. She had Jesus, a very distinguished guest at her home. Oh, there was so much to do! Her mind raced as she considered all she must accomplish. I bet we can relate to her stress as she rushed from task to task, trying to complete them all. Frustration mounted as she glimpsed her sister Mary, simply sitting at Jesus’ feet, enjoying his company.
With all there is to do, she needs to help, and help me now!
Fury escalating, she even demanded of Jesus, “Tell her to help me!”
But Jesus accurately accessed the situation, astutely acknowledged her perceived plight, and soothed her soul with His soft words, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Jesus gently reminded her people are more important than preparing that perfect Hallmark moment. If we run ourselves ragged perfecting all those ideas we pinned on Pintrest and have nothing left to give our loved ones, have we provided for positive memories that will outlast the food and crafts?
Will my heart be ready to celebrate the holiday or be burdened with the preparations? Will I dread the return of the season next year or eagerly anticipate the gathering of my favorite people?
And will I get so consumed in my to-do list that I forego my quiet time with the Lord, an omission I have learned sets me on certain crash course for the day?
Maybe like me, you struggle to create happy holidays meeting your inner Martha expectations while keeping a Mary heart. Maybe like me, you gaze at the to-do list wondering when it got so long and how on earth it will ever get done?
Might we women band together, and declare this year, this year, we will pick just one thing we will passionately prepare with mountains of creativity and glee, and all the rest we will joyfully cut corners? And, we won’t start any holiday preparing until we have first spent time with Jesus preparing our hearts?
If we chose that, our to-do list might look like this:
Time at the feet of Jesus,
Happily create one thing,
Serve up a happy holiday complete with joyous family memories of quality time spent together.
Prayer: Dear Lord, You know my heart. While I want to serve You, I often get distracted. I want to give the ‘perfect’ holiday. Remind me to redefine what that looks like. Show me as I spend time with You what that should look like. The few special things I do, may I do out of enjoyment and not perceived obligation. May Your greatest gift and my joyful presence mean more to me and my family than a perfect Pintrest-worthy holiday home. Thank You that Your expectation of me is to simply enjoy Your presence. Help me remember that. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Share below that one special preparation you love to do!