Choosing Wisely

Last Christmas I wrote this post complete with a picture of Sunshine's arrangement for our nativity. As I unloaded our decorations this year, that image was in the forefront of my mind. This year has not been the easiest year, and it's been easy to get overwhelmed in the every day things, much less all the "extras" that holidays bring. As I scrolled through my Facebook & Twitter feeds, then dove in (well, ok, stuck my toes in) to Pinterest over Thanksgiving, I began to be overwhelmed with a feeling that I wasn't doing something right. My home wasn't decorated perfectly with yards of decor mesh and crafty do-it-yourself wreaths and ornaments discovered on Pinterest. I haven't planned an all-day holiday baking party. We aren't taking a fun family vacation over the holidays. I had already decided not to mail Christmas cards. And the Christmas list for our family was, well, comparatively speaking, small.

I really began to pray that God would help me not to focus on our "have nots" - especially because that's not what Christmas is about - and instead bring the focus back to Him.

That's when I read Lora Lynn's post about their Christmas traditions - and it clicked. Would Jesus want me fretting over perfect decorations, sweating over delectable treats, or spending or stressing over gifts just for the sake of having a gift to give?

Nope.

When Jesus was visiting in Mary & Martha's home, Mary sat at His feet while Martha ran around like a chicken with it's head cut-off, playing hostess, making sure that everything was just so. And just what did Jesus tell her when she asked Him to chastise Mary for not helping her?

“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.” (Luke 10:41-42)

Instead of telling Mary to get her act together & help her sister, Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen what was better - she had chosen what could not be taken away from her. Now, don't get me wrong - there's nothing inherently faulty with anything Martha was doing. She was trying to put on her best for Jesus and the Disciples. That's ok. But, she got so wrapped up in all of those details that she was missing Jesus - she was not sitting down to enjoy His company.

I can imagine us as modern day Marthas - making every adorable ornament we've seen on Pinterest, baking all the delightful goodies, buying the next best and biggest thing for everyone on our list, spending hours creating, addressing, and sending out dozens of Christmas cards. And there's nothing wrong with any of that.

But what about Mary? Sure, Martha was showing her servant's spirit and her impeccable hospitality. But Mary chose what was better - she chose what could not be taken away from her. Instead of wrapping ourselves up and stressing ourselves out in all of the hub-bub of Christmas, we should be reminding ourselves to sit at His feet for a while. To remember the whole reason we give gifts in the first place - to celebrate THE GIFT Himself! Our joy is not found in all of the things that surround the holiday season. Our joy is in the gift of His love, His grace, and His goodness. It is found in being grateful for the blessings that we have, not the laundry list of our have-nots.

Spend some time being Mary. Shut the door and let the clutter and madness of this busy time of year wait for a while. Sit at His feet and thank Him, love Him, and praise Him for being the best gift that we ever could have imagined. Of all the gifts I could ever give my children, that is the one I want them to have more than any other thing in this world - the gift of choosing what is better, that which cannot be taken away from them.