Martha bids Jesus welcome,
Flings wide the door and greets Him warmly,
Then turns away and races for the kitchen
To prepare a feast fit for the King of Kings
While Mary kneels before Him in the household dust
To wash His feet.
Up to her elbows in flour, kneading bread,
Martha lends half an ear to the Master’s words,
But Mary, hungry for other things,
Sits quietly consuming the Bread of Life.
Martha works and frets and throws herself
Into doing the things that need done.
Planning, preparing, performing,
She chooses to do, to act, to accomplish.
At last, weary with doing, she lashes out at idle Mary
Who still sits at the Savior’s feet.
But Mary has chosen a different way,
A better way, the Master says.
Martha serves with distraction,
Labors under the strain of self-sacrifice,
Obeys with a heart of resentment
And garnishes her offering with bitterness.
Mary gives only herself—a quiet soul,
A listening love,
A heart of adoration.
Nothing is more important to her
Than fellowship with Jesus.
She chooses the better way
And her hunger and thirst are satisfied.
BJH
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:40-42)
