The other day Tom asked me if I had written anything lately. To which I answered, “No, I’ve been sort of depressed.” He said maybe writing something would help. Maybe…
I loved Bean. She was Rose’s puppy. The one delivered in the snow-apocalypse by Jake and the grossed-out Ben. Bean, the not so smart, not so brave, not so great looking dog. The little cockroach. On a normal Monday morning, within an hour’s span, she was hit, worked on at the vet, and buried. Just like that, we had to say goodbye to our little Bean who had our hearts. I loved that ridiculous little dog. We miss her so much!
I have a book called “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha’s World.” It is excellent. I’ve tried to get Shirley Williams to read it, but for some reason she doesn’t. (I don’t think she wants to admit that she’s a total Martha! But so am I.)
The entire book is based on a little happening in Luke.
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 Jesus 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 only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)
DON’T YOU CARE?
I have worn Martha’s shoes before. I’ve been sick of organizing Sabbath School, doing Home and School, leading out in Adventures, and even Mommin! I’ve had my own pity parties. But when Bean died I found myself crying in my heart, “God DON’T YOU CARE that Bean has died? You are supposed to care! Even about a dumb sparrow! Don’t you care about the best jackhuahua in the world?”
I love how Martha is close enough to Jesus to ask this question of her heart. But as the book points out, she stayed around to hear Jesus’ answer.
The better choice. Mary had chosen what is better. Mary had chosen Jesus.
Mary and Martha’s story doesn’t end there. In John 11 you will find them faced with the death of their brother. You will also find they have flip-flopped a bit in their journey with Jesus. Martha hears Jesus is coming and goes out to meet him. Mary is sad and stays home. In verse 21, Martha plainly tells Jesus, “Look, if you’d been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask!” (John 11:17-29)
Here, Martha is strong. She has peace. She knows her brother will be resurrected. She has hope. She’s not whining. She knows Jesus can take care of it. Right then, or in the future, she is confident that Jesus is the best choice. Where is Mary? She’s inside being comforted. She’s crying. And I wonder if she is the one this time who is silently asking “DON’T YOU CARE?”
I think it is OK to be both places at different times in our lives. Strong and full of peace. And sad. Asking God, “DON’T YOU CARE?” But as Mary and Martha both concluded, so must we. It’s all about Jesus. He is the better choice. He alone is enough. Like he wept for Lazarus, he weeps for us. He is deeply moved by the aching of our hearts. And YES! Of course HE CARES!