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Although I must have Martha's hands, I have a Mary mind.
And when my children's shoes I tie, thy sandals, Lord, I find.
–Minette Allmoslecher

I wonder if Martha Stewart, with all her intricate Christmas preparations, knows she is much akin to her name sake, a woman named Martha in the Bible? The original Martha had this same need to be busy and overdo. Once, Jesus and his disciples came to her house. She started working hard to make dinner for these people. Here's what Luke 10:38-42 says:

"Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me."

As we all prepare for Christmas, this episode might sound familiar. "When is my husband going to do those Christmas lights?" "Who can help with the school party?" "Why am I doing all this shopping by myself?" "What in the world was I thinking, having Christmas at my house?" "I'll never get everything done!"

As a homemaker of 15 years, I have practiced all extremes in preparing for Christmas. There was the year my friend Pam and I completely redecorated my 1892Eastlake Cottage Victorian House. Then we decorated the staircase with lights, a real Magnolia garland, and gold ribbon just in time for a Christmas Open House to which we had invited everyone from the church where my husband was youth pastor. Then there was the year that I asked Portia, the babysitter, to "do something" to our December 22nd, bare Christmas tree. She cut all these beautiful snowflakes out of plain paper, and did the only decorating my tree saw that year. I have sent Christmas letters. I have not sent Christmas letters. I have made all my boy's teachers gifts. I have bought them all gifts in January.

Some years I have gotten stressed about making Christmas wonderful. Some years I've been so busy with babies, dirty laundry, and dirty dishes that the holiday had almost passed before I realized it was upon me. But almost every year, when I finally get down to preparing for the holiday, I get annoyed. Too many gifts, too many parties, too much decorating, too little money.

But I think the truth is this busyness issue is not just a Christmas problem. Stephen Covey, in his book "First Things First" says, "People expect us to be busy, overworked. It's become a status symbol in our society – if we're busy, we're important; if we're not busy, we're embarrassed to admit it. Busyness is where we get our security. It's validating, popular and pleasing, It's also a good excuse for not dealing with the first things in our lives."

But there is an answer to this problem of busyness, and Jesus gives it to Martha:
"But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

The first, and second, and third, and hundredth time I read this passage it really bothered me. I questioned its place in the canon of scripture. What do you mean, Jesus? Only one thing is necessary?! But who will cook the food, and how will the house get clean, and who will do the laundry? If we all sat around listening, this place would fall apart. If no one decorated for Christmas, or cooked the ham, we wouldn't be able to celebrate! Someone has to do it!

But as the years have passed, I'm beginning to understand. Like Martha, we can get so distracted by all the seemingly necessary things that we miss the point. We are so busy with preparations, that we miss the One we are preparing for. We have our priorities all wrong.

The answer to our busyness and stress is to sit at the feet of Jesus—to stop all our "important" work, and hear what Jesus has to say. We need to hear him say "Don't worry about what you will eat or drink or what you will wear. I cloth the birds, I will take care of you" (Matthew 6:25-26). We need to hear him say "The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).

Sometimes I think we're afraid to be still. We are afraid to stop and listen to Jesus because of what he might say. Will he tell me that I'm a terrible mother? Will he tell me to quit half the stuff I've signed up for? Will he expose an evil place in my heart? He might. But if you really listen, you'll hear the rest of the story.

There have been two Christmases that I remember most distinctly—two Christmases where Christ was really the center. One happened when I was a freshman in college. I was home for Christmas, and my dad (the preacher at my church) had planned a simple come-and-go communion service on Christmas Eve. When our family went up to the communion table to celebrate, I remember being so overcome with emotion. I had had no preparations to make, no cooking to do, no part to play in the Christmas program. For once, I was still enough to contemplate Christmas, to comprehend the Son of God coming to earth as an infant so he could one day die to cover my sin.

There was another Christmas that stands out—another Christmas where, almost by default, Jesus became the center. We made huge decisions last year—where to live, where to plant a church, where to put our boys in school. There were some personal dreams of living in the country that we put aside to plant this church. We had closed on our house in Natomas Park on December 20th last year, which left no energy or time to decorate for Christmas. The house was bare, and the wounds from so much change were still fresh.

We got out of our sleeping bags on the 21st and discovered a Christmas tree, lights, and decorations on our front porch. I was moved like I seldom am. God had used our loan officer to love us. And in that moment, in the starkness of a home ill-prepared for Christmas, I heard Jesus say, "See, I love you. I love you so much that I came to earth for you. Now love me enough to bring Christmas to the people that don't know me."

Christmas is about Jesus coming to us, and us taking Jesus to others. It's not about lights and food and trees and gingerbread. It's about Emmanuel-"God with us." But often, we are too busy and loud to notice.

So this Christmas, practice being still. Practice sitting at the feet of Jesus and hearing what he has to say. Maybe do it in the evening after everyone else is in bed. Sit by the lighted tree, and take the time to feel God's presence and peace. Maybe get up early in the morning. Sit with your cup of tea and be still. Don't make a to-do list. Don't plan your day. Just sit and listen. Read a passage of God's word and let it speak to you.

And whenever you choose to listen, don't be afraid to hear what Jesus has to say, because whatever He says, He will always tell you the rest of the story. Whatever truth you have to face, you'll also hear Him say "God loved you so much He sent Me, his only Son, that whoever believes in Me won't perish but will have life forever. I didn't come to condemn you, I came to save you" (John 3:16, my paraphrase).

So this Christmas, don't be so busy preparing that you miss the One for which you are preparing. Instead of having a Martha Christmas, have a Mary Christmas instead.

Citations:
http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Christmas/xmasstewart.htm
Stephen Covey, A. Roger Merrill, Rebecca R. Merrill. "First Things First: To Live, to Love, To Learn, to Leave a Legacy." Simon & Schuster, 1994.

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

Called To Brokenness