Just a few weeks ago as Frank and Clay sat down to dinner - Clay said, "come on, Mom, we're ready to eat." I was standing in the kitchen, looking for... oh, yes, one more thing... the ketchup, that's it.
Clay continued, "you know, that's what I remember about family dinners when the girls were all still home. We would all be at the table, and you would still be rushing around in the kitchen getting something for someone." Now I could quickly respond that maybe, just maybe, I was still in the kitchen because I had not properly trained all my children to help get everything to the table before dinner was ready, but I do understand what he meant. There did and honestly, there does, still always seem to be just one more thing to do before stopping to sit, listen, and enjoy conversation.
Our discussion on Thursday evening led us to Mary and Martha and Jesus' visit to their house. Poor Martha - most famous for her distraction, her worry, her concern of unfairness as she prepared the meal, and Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. I love the way the King James version of the Bible offered Jesus' response to Martha concern.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
In her busyness Jesus simply reminded Martha... You have need for ME. You are full of need for ME. Let's keep in mind who is speaking here - He is: Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Oh friends, we have need for Him, even when we don't see it, don't feel it, or don't acknowledge it. We were made in His image to be in fellowship with Him, to bring glory to Him.
His mother, Mary... I think she "got" it. After the shepherd's visited, the Bible allows us just a quiet moment to peek into the heart of Mary. Luke 2:19 says, But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. Even after the indescribable journey to Bethlehem, the birth of her precious baby boy, the visit of the shepherds...she found some amount of time to treasure all the things that had happened and ponder them in the tenderest place... her heart. To ponder is to consider something deeply and thoroughly... it takes time.
Twelve years later when Jesus had been left behind in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph rushed back the minute they realized he was missing. They found him, of course, in the Temple responding with his simple reply, "Didn't you know I would be in my Father's house?" His parents did not fully understand His statement at that point, but even still... Luke again uses the same phrase, "But His mother treasured all these things in her heart."
I just have to believe that even though Luke only used that phrase, "but Mary" twice in his gospel, the phrase must clearly characterize Mary a bit. She found the time, she created the time, she knew her need for the time to ponder and treasure her son, ultimately her Savior, and so, my friends, must we!
During every season, but especially THIS season, these next 20 days, would you find the time, create the time, see your need for the time with Jesus.... just 20 minutes a day... maybe by the Christmas tree early in the morning. Read the story of His birth... from Luke 1 and 2. Read it over again each day, or just read a few verses of it a day, and just allow a little time for God to speak to you through His word.
But Mary... treasured... the Necessary... the ONE THING. His name is Jesus.
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