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
This past month (or two) has been crazy for me. The decision to hand-make all the Christmas gifts for my family members culminated in a month full of stress, frustration, and time away from my family. Though I truly love crafting of all types and putting all the love I can into the things I give to family and friends, I did not manage my time well despite my best efforts and I spent a month where I spent more time than I should have closed in my craft room while my husband watched my daughter grow up. It was terrible too because by the time I realized that this was the result of my decision, it was too late to go back. But as I bent over my sewing machine and my knitting needles God taught me a valuable lesson. I am Martha. It's not that my hard working nature is a bad thing, but when I let my list of tasks overrun my life, I'm not chosing the better part--time not only with my family, but with my Lord.
So, with that in mind, I'm going to do my best to take a week fast from crafting. Just a week where I can put some things into perspective and clear my mind from all the to do lists that crowd it and make it impossible for me to focus on my family the way I should. And though I rarely do so, I'm making a New Year's resolution this year: I resolve to be more like Mary.
On another note, I will be posting all the pictures I took of the gifts I made in the next few weeks. Some of them I finished in such a hurry that I took poor pictures, and/or the lighting wasn't at it's best, but I'll post them anyway because maybe it will inspire some of you to hand-make some of your gifts--in moderation, of course!
--Luke 10:38-41
This past month (or two) has been crazy for me. The decision to hand-make all the Christmas gifts for my family members culminated in a month full of stress, frustration, and time away from my family. Though I truly love crafting of all types and putting all the love I can into the things I give to family and friends, I did not manage my time well despite my best efforts and I spent a month where I spent more time than I should have closed in my craft room while my husband watched my daughter grow up. It was terrible too because by the time I realized that this was the result of my decision, it was too late to go back. But as I bent over my sewing machine and my knitting needles God taught me a valuable lesson. I am Martha. It's not that my hard working nature is a bad thing, but when I let my list of tasks overrun my life, I'm not chosing the better part--time not only with my family, but with my Lord.
So, with that in mind, I'm going to do my best to take a week fast from crafting. Just a week where I can put some things into perspective and clear my mind from all the to do lists that crowd it and make it impossible for me to focus on my family the way I should. And though I rarely do so, I'm making a New Year's resolution this year: I resolve to be more like Mary.
On another note, I will be posting all the pictures I took of the gifts I made in the next few weeks. Some of them I finished in such a hurry that I took poor pictures, and/or the lighting wasn't at it's best, but I'll post them anyway because maybe it will inspire some of you to hand-make some of your gifts--in moderation, of course!
3 comments:
I take breaks a lot, it helps immensely. And I don't get things for family, just my own, it's too stressful, too expensive, too many of them... can't wait to see what you did
I did exactly the same thing! I tried to make all these handmade gifts for Christmas and it ended up taking forever! I want to try this year to spread out the gift making by doing one a month or buying more of my gifts.
I too am a Martha. I think it is sometime the overwhelming tendency for us moms to be that way and for some reason so difficult to just sit still and be with our families and our Lord. Thank you for sharing. I hope your craft fast gives you all that you are looking for.
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