Mary, Martha and Grandpa

Luke 10:38-42

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But 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!'

'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, '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.'"

From the time that I was little I remember hearing the story of Mary and Martha. Mary- the sister who sat at the Lord Jesus' feet and listened to what He had to say. Her heart was in the right place because she was more concerned about eternal things then earthly things. Her sister- Martha- busied herself with preparations. She was likely cooking and cleaning and trying to prepare everything so Jesus and His disciples would be presented with the best of what she had to offer. Even though her actions weren't bad in and of themselves Jesus said Mary acted right because while Martha was distracted, while Mary was learning and focusing on the Lord.

Not long ago I was visiting my Grandpa. Grandma was away for the weekend and so I was using the time to get some cleaning done in their home. As I was vacuuming Grandpa came in and said that he wanted to show me a video. So I turned off the vacuum cleaner and went with him to the T.V. where he had the VHS (please tell me someone still knows what a VHS is) all ready to play. 

The video that he wanted to show me was funny and I enjoyed it but in my head I was thinking of all the things that I needed to do. I only had a day or two to get things done and I would also be making meals for the both of us. As I was beginning to fidget God spoke to me. Not audibly, but He gave me a gentle reminder of the story of Mary and Martha.

God reminded me that my Grandpa is 86 years old. I'm so blessed to have him in my life, he's been an amazing teacher and mentor to me for many years. It's hard to say how much longer I'll be blessed to have him be part of my life here on earth. I wanted to clean because it's something I can do to help my grandparents. But isn't it just as important to simply spend time with Grandpa?

Here Grandpa was, sharing a part of his life with me through these old tapes. If I let myself get distracted by all the things that need done so I can 'serve' him then I miss out on the joy of just spending time with him in the moment. I'll lose sight of what's important and become just as guilty as Martha.

In the end we spent over an hour and had some great laughs at the video but you know, the video's not going to be what I most remember about that day, neither is the cleaning I accomplished or the food I prepared. It'll be the time with Grandpa that I look back on and cherish.

Friends, don't get so distracted by the checklists that life gives us that you forget to enjoy and participate in life. Cherish the people around you, from the tiniest baby to the esteemed elders, love them while you can, whether that's one day or one hundred years, the time of loving people and showing them God's love is never a waste. 

Go back to Jesus' words in Matthew 22:36-40 when a young man came and asked him this question-

"'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?'

Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

First love the Lord your God, second, love people. Remember the story of Mary, Martha and Grandpa and find time to love those people God has put in your life this week.