But Only One Thing is Necessary

The last thing I remember is the excited determination to prepare for Christmas. When I finally took a breath and glanced at the calendar, six months had elapsed. It was June already! No wonder I felt drained. I spent the first half of the year preparing, organizing, and meandering with busyness. Have you ever been there? There is a never-ending to-do list of household chores, car maintenance, birthday parties, and family outings. Some days are exhausting, yet we can not take a break. Adulting demands that we complete every single task on the to-do list. Right? Well, that depends.

Already weighed down, I added more tasks to my busy schedule. As a self-published author, I am solely responsible for marketing my book so I got to work! I registered to attend book fairs and author signings. I relished opportunities to discuss my book as a podcast guest. The reason behind my nonstop busyness was to share the gospel by inviting women to read my memoir Broken Clay: Finding Renewal in the Potter’s Hands. Although my intentions were pure, I missed the most crucial element of experiencing the gospel: sitting at Jesus’ feet.

I found myself in a Martha moment. In Luke 10:40-42, Martha, overwhelmed with her to-do list, sought sympathy from Jesus. Can you picture her apron smeared with flour and oil, dishtowel draped over her shoulder, and beads of sweat on her forehead? She wishes for Jesus to see how hard she is working. She wants Him to direct her sister, Mary, to assist in the preparations. But He does the opposite. In verse 41, Jesus answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing is necessary.”

As a busy woman myself, who sometimes feels overwhelmed because no one is there to help me with my preparations, I am confident that once Jesus’ words resonated with her, Martha shed a few tears. Relieved to learn that every task is not necessary, I imagine she untied her apron, gently folded the dishtowel, and laid it atop the table. With one last glance at the kitchen, she joined her sister Mary at Jesus’ feet. These past six months, I missed being at Jesus’ feet. I was so distracted by all my preparations that I barely spent quiet time with Jesus. My journaling became sporadic, and I missed six months of writing my monthly newsletters. I am glad for Jesus’ loving reminder that only one thing is necessary. To sit at His feet.

May God keep you and bless you, Tika