The summer of my Mary heart

Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part,
which will not be taken away from her.
Luke 10:41-42

The next two months are unique as I have no commitments, except for helping at the summer library sale. I cannot recall the last time that I have had two entire free months since...well, never. It has to be as far back as early high school that I didn't have either a job, was homeschooling year round, and/or had young children to closely supervise.

As I was watching the funeral of Ruth Graham on TV Saturday, I was thinking about the legacy she left behind. I was so touched when Anne showed her mother's Bible and the many notes and words of wisdom it included. I tend to do well with my quiet times for awhile and then let them slide as...life happens. Would my family have anything tangible to show that I was a person of Faith other than shelves of books, some pretty scripture pictures on the wall, and a collection of Bibles in various translations?

In my life, Martha is always trumping Mary. Like an older and more verbal sister, the Martha part of me reminds my inner self that there is dinner to be cooked, dishes to be washed, laundry to be sorted, floors to be swept, cats to be fed, weeds to be pulled, lists to be made, groceries to be purchased and put away, clutter to be organized...life is all about the daily work that must be done!

Not that we do not need our Martha nature, she is vital to the work of our household...she just seems to take over all the time. We realize it is time for another day to end and we have spent no quality time reading the Word, or praying, or asking for wisdom, or just thinking of His Goodness...just a few quick "help" prayers sent up throughout the day.

It's not that I'm fearful, for I truly am able to stay calm about most situations. No...like Martha, I become worried and troubled about many things. It's the little foxes that begin to eat away at my peace. I personally think that is far more difficult to control than "the big stuff". I haven't even had time to fret about global warming and the possibility of continued terrorism when the price of gas is over $3.00 and milk is...well, cheaper to buy a cow and put it out back.

After watching the funeral of such a precious woman, I decided I was going to make this the summer of my Mary heart. Martha is going to be subdued for at least a couple of months. After all, this is summer and the living should be slower. It is far easier to subdue my Martha nature in the summer than any other time of the year.

So...I am going to make certain I set my alarm clock once again to get up before anyone else in the house and take my coffee, Bible, and notebook to the deck...my place...surrounded by flowers and trees...and a few of nature's small creatures.

I am carrying with me (in my purse) my summer devotional book as well as The Valley of Vision so those times I am having a cup of coffee and...waiting...for whatever reason...my mind will be turned to those writings of great peace and beauty.

Unless there is some major world news crisis, I will be watching only my local news and taking a sabbatical from Fox, CNN, and MSNBC. I rarely watch the Network evening news, anyway. I'm certain if there is any important news, I'll get an e-mail update.

I've decided to do some more journaling...both in writing and in my journal scrapbook. Something to leave behind to the next generation...like Ruth...wisdom that has been received from the furnace of affliction as well as in the quiet of the early morning ponderings in the Word.

Meals may be simple, the house may gather a little more dust, some things will not be checked off my "to do" list....I can almost guarantee it. However, this is going to be the summer when the Mary side of my nature is let free. I can hardly wait to see what happens...

Photo: Beach Cottage Print; Art.com