uke 10:38-42 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Balance. Many times, there is nothing that seems more difficult than balance. Soccer practice. Work. Cheerleading try-outs. Oh, the traffic! Phone calls. Flat tire. Grocery shopping. Errands. Clean the house. Laundry for miles. Plan meals. Make breakfast. Exercise. Learn. Grow. Relax.
I’ll share a “horrible” secret with you. Sometimes I don’t cook dinner for my family. Sometimes, I’m working late. Or I’m busy helping 2 kids with a science fair project and 1 kid with algebra. Sometimes, we don’t all gather round the dinner table, hold hands, say a prayer and eat together.
There. I confessed.
But I don’t think that makes me a bad person. Finally, I think that. I haven’t always. But, it is unfair to judge myself in this light. There are times in our lives we must be workers and accomplish much. And there are times when the to do list doesn’t matter because relationships must be our priority. But above all, just be aware of our task list and our relationships.
Italian Beef is a quick meal that actually has that “I’ve been cooking all day” taste. Make sure all the ingredients are on your shopping list. Try it out around your family table. Oh, and don’t forget to grab the hand of the person next to you and give thanks before you dive in.
