Doin' One Thing At a Time

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!

Martha's Hands and Mary's Heart

This is how I am starting a new week.

I'm still paying the price for running my dishwasher

just before leaving on Christmas vacation.

I learned the hard way,

you really should shut your water off

when you leave your house for awhile.

I also learned to make sure the kitty

doesn't get left inside.

The Longest Day of the Year

is still not over

three months later.

But, I see light at the end of the tunnel.

On day one,

everything from the dining room and kitchen

 was piled into the living room. 

 

 My appliances were even  moved into the living room.

All the trim and closet doors were removed.

They were put in the living room,

of course.

The boxes of  flooring had been stacked

in my living room,

of course,

 for one week to acclimate to my home's humidity.

Day two they began installing the wood.

Look at my new floor!

They assured me it was installed securely.

The flooring they removed had only
 two nails per strip, they used five.

I told them I was glad it was secure,

because we like to rollerblade in the house.

I don't think they liked hearing their beautiful work
was going to be desecrated in such a way.

But, that's why I purposely bought a hand-scraped finish.
It already has nicks and chips in it.
What my family does to the floor,
will only enhance it.

By the end of day three,

they were done installing.

Everything is still stacked in the living room.
Today the crew will reinstall the trim and doors,

put the appliances back,

and move all the furniture

back into the dining room.

I have boxes of dishes to unpack and put back into the hutch
and into the hall closet.  

 Sawdust needs to be wiped off every surface.

We should be fully moved back in on Tuesday.

Tuesday morning, I am driving to the aiport
 to pick up some special company.
When Christians are coming,
Jesus is coming.

I still have to grocery shop.

We are out of toilet paper in two out of three bathrooms.

I haven't planned any meals.

I'm not sure where everyone is going to sleep.

I am planning on taking some advice I read and re-read last week

from Joyce at Joyfull Living during the most chaotic construction days.

"..my goal for my home (and myself) this week

is to keep a calm and steady pace.

 Since as the mom and woman of the home,

my attitude largely determines the pace of the home,

I want to enjoy a peaceful week in the midst of the activities."

I am determined to start this busy week peaceful,

remembering that hospitality

 is not about the condition of my house,

but of my heart.


1 Peter 4:9

"Be hospitable to one another without grumbling."

We grumble when we get stressed,
focusing on the unimportant,
not the important.

I know my company is coming to see my family,
not my house.

Today, the Lord impressed my heart that
 I need to work like Martha

preparing my home for my company.
But, more importantly,
I  the Lord needs to prepare
 my heart like Mary's
to minister to my friends
and to enjoy encouraging fellowship.

My home is where we live.
My heart is where He lives.
Both need to be ready.


Luke 10:38-42


 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village;
and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.
  But Martha was distracted with much serving said,
  “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?
Therefore tell her to help me.”


And Jesus answered,
 “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part,
which will not be taken away from her.”


I'm asking  Him to guide
my hands
and
my heart.

 

******
Follow me over to Nan's for
MAKING YOUR HOME SING MONDAY
to get encouragement from other blogging moms
as we begin another
Monday.
Instead of dreading Mondays,
learn to sing your way through them.