Call me Martha

Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Have you ever had one someone drop by when you were just not prepared??? Well that happened this evening. My very cool cousins from Wisconsin are in town for the Thanksgiving holiday. They are visiting their parents in Mission Viejo. They wanted to come by and say hello and check out our house. They have not seen it since we moved here in 2003.

So I am sitting at the table watching this car pull into our driveway. I was more than slightly relieved when I thought that I did not recognize them. Then they got out of the car and made themselves known.

I realized who they were and that they were not going to just stop at the door. Mind you, normally that would not have mattered. BUT TODAY, our house is just a mess. I mean it is more than a mess. Clothes everywhere, cabinet doors not shut, mail on the floor, dishes in the sink, piles of laundry to do, stinky bathrooms, floor rugs that are all wadded up, toys here and there, and just a mess. Not dirty but super duper messy. I was praying that they would not ask to use the restroom.

And of all people to visit, Ken and Michele and her mother are the ones that I would have really loved to be prepared for. Not that they are looking at anything superficial, but we bought the house from Michele's cousin Diana. Ken and Michele have seen this house for many years before we ever were blessed with it. I really wanted it to be sparkly when they came. I wanted them to see how well we take care of the house we bought from Michele's cousin.

Sounds neurotic but it meant a lot to me. And, since they live in Wisconsin, I was banking on having some notice about a visit. The problem??? I was sooooo concerned with how my house looked, with where everything was, with the impression that I completely lost sight of the whole matter. They came to see us, then the house. I haven't seen Ken (my cousin) in more than 2 years and Michele I have not seen in 5 years. So any thought of warmly welcoming them into my home was cooled by my stupid selfish insecurities about my house. I dashed any hope of them feeling welcome and happy to be seen.

I clearly see how I am a "Martha". Martha was a woman in Jesus' time who was more concerned about the things I just confessed to. Jesus walked into her house ..JESUS in the flesh. JESUS CHRIST comes into her home and she is mad at her sister for not helping prepare for him. Her sister Mary probably put the broom away and spent whatever time she had with Jesus while she could. He wouldn't be there long...just a short while. This could not be a more glaring modern day parallel to Luke 10:38-42.

I am ashamed of my behavior. Ken and Michele and Mary (Michele's Mom)...please forgive me for being so ungracious. And, come back anytime! (gulp) I really mean that. Next time, kick the toys out of the way and find yourself a seat!! I love you guys.