Carter’s Chatter

Today Pastor talked about Mary and Martha in Sunday School. Now I know I am a Martha so I winced when he criticised her. He was right, of course, when he said Mary understood that Jesus wasn’t always going to be with them, so she chose to spend time with Him rather than help her sister in the kitchen. Mary was right; but so was Martha. Both saw something needful and both were doing it. Martha just didn’t accept Mary’s differences, so when she criticised, she was wrong. The reader doesn’t know Mary’s reaction. The Bible doesn’t tell.

Still, I have always felt that the Christian woman should use both women for an example. I believe we should be willing to listen AND be willing to serve. How do we do that? I don’t know all the answers, but one area that has always troubled me are church dinner days. Why do one-third to one-half of the women have to miss the church service in order to make sure the food is ready? After all, tables are set and decorations are ready the day before, and we bring already prepared dishes. They are placed in the refrigerator or the oven or plugged in. Some foods (like breads or desserts) can be placed on the table between Sunday School and Church. For the rest, it only takes ten or fifteen minutes for a crew of women to uncover and place spoons into before the end of church. So I don’t see why we aren’t sitting, listening, like Mary to what we need to hear. Even if people have to wait five or ten extra minutes, what is the rush anyway? Isnt’ part of the purpose of a church dinner fellowship?

I am not criticising those who are more of a Martha than me, but I would hope those ultra Marthas might listen and ask: How can I be more like Mary? Perhaps if they did, more Mary’s could show the Martha side of their personalities.