Mary and Martha, have you met them? Have you wondered what life was really like for them? Were you annoyed or at peace with their story?!!
From Luke 10:38-42
38 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. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 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.”
41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
I've read this Bible story before, perhaps you have too, of these two sisters that Jesus visited. They stand out to me as a homemaker because I have longed to be the "Mary" the one sitting around doing nothing (ok, that's not really what she's doing, but tell me that's not the impression you get at first!) Yet, I've found myself for years only being the "Martha" running from thing to thing, making sure everything got done, and so distracted over the process that I've sometimes forgotten the people. I don't want to miss out on the people though!
Is it possible to be a combination of both?
Sarah Mae in her new book Having a Martha Home the Mary Way takes a look at that age old question and discovers an amazing truth. IT IS POSSIBLE!
First, I know that we can all feel overwhelmed and the thought of reading a book to help you feel less overwhelmed may make you stop and ask "do you think I have time for that?!" The truth is, YOU DO! One of the things I love about this book is that it is broken down into doable chapters. The introduction, with some background information on Sarah Mae is a little longer, but then there are 31 chapters, one for each day. Each chapter has a short reading/reflection on life, usually giving us a peek into Sarah Mae's life, then a Mary Challenge which is a few minutes reflecting on God's Word, and then a Martha Challenge which is a few minutes doing something to make your home a cleaner more organized space. Still feel like you won't have time for reading and the activities? Save the Martha challenges for a weekend, and get the family involved!
"I need clarity and peace and space to think, both physically and mentally. When there is a mess swirling around me on the outside, I internalize it. For me chaos outside equals chaos inside." (Sarah Mae, pg 25) Yes, yes and yes!!!! This is me. I can't think with a mess. So I've had to learn little tricks to keep the mess under control in order for me to find inner peace. This book has a wealth of tips for finding that inner peace. Again, all the tips and ideas are in doable amounts.
You don't have to be a "Martha" doing it all and never having time to stop, but you also don't need to be a "Mary" only ever stopping. You can be combination of the two, and have inner peace and a peaceful, restful home. Will you take the time to find out how?
Join the challenge, and find the calm! The book is available now visit http://sarahmae.com for more information about this fantastic book and to order your copy! Don't miss out, it's simple, it's direct and it will make a difference!
