Mary and Martha, DeAnn and Tracey

 There’s always been a running joke between my sister Tracey and I (and even Robin-God rest her soul) of who was Martha and which one of us was Mary. If you know either of us, even a tad, then you can definitely answer that question. We’ve joked about it for years and not intending to discount either one, because clearly Jesus loved them both, just as He loves us both. It’s just that we have different personalities, different traits, and different desires. Tracey has always been considered our Martha, if you’ve ever been blessed enough to have been invited to her home, an event, family dinner or Christmas or any holiday you know just how special she makes things. Every detail-decor, food, everything. Thank God she’s our Martha -otherwise we’d have some sad family gatherings. She’s busy, she’s intentional and her gift is hospitality. She makes vacations exceptional because she brings the kitchen sink -if you know what I mean. She will make you feel right at home as she scurries around making things just near perfect. 

I, on the other hand, am more of a Mary. I like to take it all in, be in the moment, enjoy the hospitality, and be present. She’d call it lazy probably-but I’m just not hospitality driven. Why should I be-when she gets it all done and then some. I mean…

I’ve often pictured what it would be like if Jesus was to come over (to her house, not mine) 🤣she’d definitely be making everything just so for Him. She’d make Him feel welcome and would attend to all his needs. While I would be opening up the patchouli (ha) (ironically FYI patchouli and nard-what THE actual Mary used to wash Jesus feet -are closely related in scent) and washing His feet. I just don’t think I could be moved from His presence. This would make Trace little snippy at me I’m sure, kinda like when I’m still socializing and she’s washing up the dishes. It’s bad, I know. But…

Through the years I think we’ve joked about it, but think maybe we’ve both wore the title proud. Me thinking I can’t be Martha, I want to be Mary-plus I don’t have the same talents or even desires of Martha. And Trace, she’s definitely thought ‘well we all can’t be Mary because we’d never eat or celebrate any holidays’ I’m sure.

For those blessed enough to have a sister I’m sure it’s the same thing for you too. One always seems like the slacker, the other thinking why does everything have to perfect. 

But oh how I appreciate Trace and her Martha ways. I’ve strived to be more like her, but it’s just not me. I have the intentions-just not the gifting. Maybe Trace appreciates me-in my slackness or maybe it irritates her. I do think she appreciates that we are different tho.

All this to say-I was reading my Easter Bible plan and it took me to Mary and Martha -when Jesus came back when they had sent word about Lazarus. I discovered today-that maybe I do have a little of Martha in me-ha-not the hospitable part-but the faith part. Martha is the one who ran out to meet Jesus, while Mary stayed back. We are not told why Mary stayed back, maybe her grief paralyzed her. But Martha…her GRIEF and  BELIEF made her run to Jesus. As I was reading Martha’s encounter with Jesus I had to laugh a little because she just gave it to Jesus straight,” Lord, if you only had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” Doesn’t faith give us that boldness sometimes…knowing what you know and just putting it right out there. Thankfully, from life experience and faith in God-I feel like I have that boldness that Martha displayed that day. Seems this day the sisters were more alike than not. Martha proclaiming she’d always believed Jesus was the Messiah and knowing He was going to make things right. 

And then-there’s Mary. The one I most relate to. Did she not come out to meet Jesus because she wasn’t so sure if she was a little angry at Jesus for not making it sooner, for not saving her brother? Maybe she was ashamed of her wavering faith. But Mary, vulnerable with her tears in front of Jesus-tears that allows us, even today, to see the character of Christ. Reading about Him seeing her as she questioned Him and cried in front of Him-we are allowed to see Jesus’ with real emotions of compassion, anger and deep sorrow. As we read in John 11, a verse that allows me to know Jesus cares and sees me…”Jesus wept.” John 11:35- Two words that speaks volumes. 

This story of sisters, family, death and miracles always gets me. It’s one of the chapters in the Bible that always reminds me of Jesus humanness-his emotions, his love for family and friends, and how He chose to go when the going wasn’t easy. I feel certain He knew that time was drawing near of the things to come, but He chose this miracle to confirm to others of His power because faith was a wavering thing even then and to show the opposers just WHO He was. 

Thankfully, these scriptures, this story make me thankful for differences in others, for faith, for acceptance, for family and knowing full well that Jesus in His human form knows and feels our sorrows, our joy and He’s in it and for us. And finally, it reminds me of just how much He loves me-and what all He took on to save me-and because of that-one day the stench of death will no longer steal life -just like Lazarus. 

Trace-I love and appreciate your Martha heart and your constant hospitality and for making things always so very special -it’s a gift given to you by God. I know that you’ll always  choose to run to Him…just like Martha did.