I have finally admitted something to myself.
I will always be busy.
I will never have a slow time.
Not just because the demands of life make me busy,
I want to be busy.
Even if I could finish everything on my list
I will just make another one,
or two or three.
I cannot sit still.
I do not want to sit still.
I love to do things
with and for my family,
friends and other people.
Having a husband and six kids,
homeschooling,
exercising hospitality,
attending Bible study,
writing,
nesting,
crafting,
organizing....
I love it all.
When the list gets too overwhelming,
I don't even write it down,
or try to hold myself to a schedule.
I conquer the daily immediate demands,
then chisel at the extra stuff,
one thing
at a time.
Just
one thing.
When I walk down the hall,
I grab
one thing
that needs to be put away in a bedroom.
If I have to go to the laundry room I take
one thing
from the railing that needs to be put away downstairs.
When I sit down at my desk,
I will go through a pile of papers,
and deal with just
one thing.
If Beka is busy with school,
I quickly mend or sew
one thing.
If I can narrow my focus to
one thing,
that thing will get done.
I can accomplish so much,
one thing
at a time.
You know who invented conquering the world
one thing
at a time?
It wasn't Martha.
It was Mary.
I can imagine Martha
scratching lists onto scrolls,
of all that had to be done because
the Lord was going to dine at her home.
When I read the Lord's gentle rebuke in Luke 10
I always cringe.
I really, really, really wanna be Mary,
but Martha is my twin separated at birth.
Mary did
one thing.
The only thing that really matters in a home.
Luke 10:39
"Mary... sat at Jesus’feet
and heard His word."
The Lord told Martha about the
one thing
that needed to be done.
Luke 10: 42
"But one thing is needed,
and Mary has chosen that good part,
which will not be taken away from her."
I'm starting another busy week,
with a lot on my list,
but only
one thing
that really needs to be done.
Linkin' up!
What wonderful reminder on this Monday morning to concentrate on that which is the most needed!
ReplyDeleteThis is "one"derful. :) Thanks for this reminder. I'm a HUGE list girl myself...and so desperately need this reminder to keep the main thing the main thing.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week.
Beautiful reminder to make our quiet times with the Lord a priority!
ReplyDeleteI am a believer in taking the "little" minutes and getting something done. Five minutes may not be much, but five minutes here and there add up to a half hour, an hour, a couple of hours, etc.
Thanks for linking up to Making Your Home Sing Monday!
I am easily overwhelmed when I make a list or when my house is a wreck. Thanks for this blog. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this. I needed this gentle reminder.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Beautifully put, Mindy! have a great week.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh - "scratching lists on parchment." Oh, yeah, that's me!
ReplyDeleteGreat reminder, as I, too, am so easily overwhelmed by the avalanche of stuff that needs to be done each and every day.
I once read a book called the One Minute Manager that helped me wiith things on my list. Truthfully, I am more of a Mary than Martha in my latter years. I love to cuddle up with God, moment by moment.
ReplyDeleteI am really trying to make an effort to remember that one thing more!
ReplyDeleteWhen I read "Martha is my twin separated at birth" I cried. But Mindy, it wasn't twins -- it was triplets!
ReplyDelete