Thankful Thursdays

For the necessary thing, the better thing.

Do you keep To Do lists? I do. On little post-its. Most mornings I jot down things I gotta do, or should do, or that I want to do that day. Although this time-management method is helpful, sometimes I get so wrapped up in trying to complete the tasks at hand that I lose sight of what was really necessary. Later in the day, no matter how many things I was able to cross off my list, I feel like I missed the mark. Reminds me of something my co-worker and I were discussing the other day.

Story goes that Jesus showed up at Martha’s house and Martha got too distracted running around doing things and being a hostess. All the while her sister Mary sat listening to Jesus. Martha complained about that, but Jesus told her that Mary had the right idea.

Let’s be more like Mary. When our brains are occupied with life and our hearts are troubled, and we feel inclined to run around with worry, let’s first focus on our relationship with God and listen. That’s the necessary thing, the better thing. I tell you what, for every time I make that choice, I am thankful.

What are you thankful for today?

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

“Look for God, suggests my Guru. Look for God like a man with his head on fire looks for water.”
-E. Gilbert

“Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.”
-C.S. Lewis

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
-Luke 10:38-41

[Note: By the way, in case you’re not Spanglish-speaking, “si Dios quiere” means God-willing. Mom finished most of her sentences with that phrase. I added it to my sendoff in her honor after her passing].