A poem for the Martha's...

A poem for the Martha's in ministry. May we find time to celebrate with the Master and not be engrossed by the task at hand. 

She made Him feel quite at home when He entered her village that day.
Her heart was for service, her home was an offering,
A place for others to gather, to learn, and pray.

She was busy baking bread, serving wine and keeping up,
As the tasks at hand began to pile and build.
She wanted badly to listen too as Jesus taught,
But if she did there would be a valuable spot in the kitchen to fill.

Where was her sister Mary she wondered,
As she dried off dishes and stacked them neatly.
Her heart of service began to turn bitter,
As she felt abandoned, unwanted, and discarded so discreetly.

I want to listen, I want to visit, she grumbled inside her heart.
Do they not see or understand the sacrifices I make,
Why won't Mary help or was she "too good" to take part?

Her thoughts began to wander to disdain, anger and spite.
She poured more wine and washed more dishes,
But her demeanor was ill tempered and in service she no longer took delight.

How she longed for some relief and help,
To lighten the task at hand.
But no one seemed to care at all,
This could not go on, she had to take a stand. 

To the Master she must state her peace,
Mary must be told her place.
Help will be given He will understand, 
Mary's behavior was such a disgrace!

"Master," she interrupted, her tone was bold and frustrated.
"Don't you see me working hard while this sister of mine, sits and does nothing.
Make her mind, tell her to work, I feel so isolated!"

The Master looked at her with love and His eyes were full of pity.
"Martha, dear Martha, you are getting worked up over nothing," He said.
"You're fussing way too much.
Mary sees only one thing is truly important,
and to this she must grasp onto and clutch.
She wants to gather, to learn, to pray am I not more essential?
Dear Martha I will not take this from her, the dishes can wait.
Mary has chosen wisely, for it is time to stop and to celebrate."

Do we take time to stop and worship,
To sit and listen to the Master speak?
Or do we tire with work less important,
In a box of service labeled as "meek".

Dear Martha's we must not trap ourselves,
For "meek" this is a phony label. 
It is a ruse designed to snare,
"Martyr" fits better and is not a fable.

Let us break free and truly worship,
Not miss a moment at the Master's feet. 
For when we were broken He did save us,
And in Him our work is truly complete.

Let us serve with gladness and a grateful heart,
To the Master whose sacrifice can truly liberate us.
He is essential, nothing else matters,
So we can abandon the tasks that truly debilitate us.

For in Him we are free we are free indeed,
And we must dwell is His presence daily.

Nothing else matters,
The dishes can wait.
Jesus is worthy,
Wisely choose and celebrate!

May God help us to see our phony labels and remind us daily of what is really important.

As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.” 

The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”
  
~Luke 10: 38-42