Don't Let Busyness Steal Your Christmas
Joy
By
Martha Stringer
I'm
late…I'm late…I'm LATE! Street
light turn green now…now…NOW!
Go, buddy, go! What shade of green are you
waiting for? Oh, I hate to be late. And
today I just don't have time for it. I've
got to drop these cookies off at school.
I've got to run to the mall and pick out
a sweater TODAY so I can get it wrapped
and shipped out TOMORROW before I've got
to pay more to mail it than its going cost
to buy it. Then it's off to the grocery
store to pick up cream of tarter. What is
that stuff anyway? And what's it doing to
enhance the taste and texture of the next
creation of Christmas confections I promised
to supply for some sure to be festive (NOT)
function? Oh, that reminds me. I've got
to drop that blouse off at the dry cleaners
so I can look fetching at that festive function.
I'll do that after the mall.
The
mall…parking there oughtta be fa la
la fun. I'm sure I'll have to stalk some
weary shopper as they wander around the
lot trying to remember where they parked.
Here…? They'll pause and fumble with
their keys and my hopes will soar. Yes!
And so close to the entrance! Then…no!
They'll have a sudden revelation and disappear
between the rows leaving me with no place
to park. Oh, *#$&! (insert your favorite
Christmas shopping expletive here). I don't
have time for this! I bet that distant relative
sweater recipient will probably exchange
it anyway. What size does she wear again?
I'm sure it's on my list. Now where is that
list…my list….MY LIST! Oh, *#$&!
"Martha,
Martha, you are worried and upset about
many things…"
I
know, I know! I promised myself I wouldn't
do it…won't do it…WON'T DO IT!
Yet here I am another year, just like my
Biblical namesake, all tied up in the trimmings.
Typical Marthas. So frantically trying to
preparing our homes to celebrate Jesus'
arrival we forget to prepare our hearts.
I
can just imagine Martha's house in the days
leading up to the event: Jesus was coming!
And this will be the best visit (Christmas)
ever! Everything will be just right: the
house will be spotless, the food will be
gourmet and I'll look like a million shekels!
Hey…wait a minute…do I have to
do it all myself? Here He is! But there's
still so much to do. And you're just sitting
there Mary! Okay, you're at the Lord's feet
listening to Him, but still - aren't you
going to HELP ME?
In
the gospel of Luke, Jesus said, "…but
only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen
what is better, and it will not be taken
away from her."
Oh,
Lord please, I want this year to be different.
Give me Mary's heart so I'll be free of
the merry madness this Martha-world tells
me is the reason for the season. As all
the blanks on the calendar are filled in,
as the pressure to perform peaks, as dust
bunnies dance a jingle jig under my tree,
please no expletives. Help me remember you…you…YOU
are the reason for the season.
Excuse me, Mary? Could you slide over? I
see some room there by His feet.
Martha
Stringer is a freelance writer living in
Yardley, PA with her husband and three children.
In addition to editing and writing a personal
column for her church newsletter, she works
part-time for a non-profit, social services
agency. Contact her at MStringer1463@aol.com
