Are You Taking Care of Yourself?

Luke 10:38–42 (ESV)

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

At first, it was okay.  Many saw a benefit in the COVID shut down. People were at home.  Families were spending time with each other; in a way they hadn’t been spending time.  I saw couples out walking in our neighborhood, people I had never seen before I saw dad’s out in their front yard playing catch with their kids.  Perhaps, we were all learning to appreciate the really important things in life, the things we had forgotten because life was too busy – family, our spouse, and so forth.  I really do hope we relearned the value of those things and that it sticks with us. 

Now, though I see and hear a lot of stress.  For me personally, COVID 19 has made life busier than ever.  I know I am not alone in this.  People are stressed.  Older, more at-risk folks are really tired of being stuck at home.  Families and children are understandable conflicted about sending their kids back to school – fearful of this virus.  People working from home like it – but really miss the interaction with other human beings.  Many have lost jobs.  People where I live near Houston are fearful for theirs because of what has happened to the Oil industry.  I know Pastors who are worried about what their church will look like when we at last move past this pandemic.  I read an article this week about 4 kinds of members who won’t be coming back to church.  My prayer is that the author is wrong.

Why all this stress?  Yes, it has to do with the pandemic and the economy.  Those are the big stressors.  What really concerns me in my life and in the lives of others I see around me – is how our lives are being squeezed right now.  So, so many people have had to cancel trips and vacations… have been unable to get out and do the things they normally do in order to relax, rest and re-energize.  Summer is normally a less stressful, slower time.  Not this year.  Too many of us are doing the “Martha” thing – running around, “anxious and troubled about many things.”  That’s why the title of this blog – “Are you taking care of yourself?” 

Today’s blog is a gentle reminder – that in this time of high stress and fear – it is more important than ever that you and I take care of ourselves.  It is more important than ever to “stop the Martha” in each of us and become a Mary.  She took time to sit at Jesus feet… to listen to Him… to soak up His Word and His love.  This is too important.  There is nothing more important that taking time to sit at Jesus feet. Jesus said it to Martha, “one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her…”    This is something we need every day and especially now in this anxious time – to sit at Jesus feet… to set aside time every day to sit quietly and read His word… to go for a quiet walk and talk to Him in prayer.  Such moments with Him should be the one thing on your schedule and mine that never gets deleted.

Are you taking care of yourself right now? Jesus invites you to take time every day to be a Mary and sit at His feet… That is the one thing you and I need more than anything else.  “Come unto Me,” is His invitation, “all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me and you shall find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”