Day 20-Mary in a Martha World

My Prayer: Psalm 113:2-3 (New International Version)
2 Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.

The Reading: Luke 9-10
Luke 10:38-42 (New International Version)
At the Home of Martha and Mary
38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

My Thoughts: There's a book that we sold at Lifeway called (something like) Being Mary in a Martha World. I haven't read it, but I get the concept. We have lives that are packed with activities and responsibilities and hobbies and things that take all our energy to keep going. Most of the time, these things feel like neccessities. Martha felt it was neccessary to make Jesus feel comfortable and welcome in her home. These were good goals until they distracted her from what's really important. Mary understood what was important. She had an opportunity that few had and that she would never have again. She had a chance to be near Jesus. I think Jesus might say the same thing to me that he said to Martha..."Cheryl, Cheryl, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed." So then the challenge becomes making that one thing the focus and making the right choices over and over again. Right. Well, I can usually tell when I'm worried and upset, so maybe I can just switch my thoughts to the one thing that matters...being close to Jesus.