A few days ago my oldest son was doing his Bible time. He’s working his way through Promises Fulfilled
But, something happened the other day that had never happened before. He called me out!
“Mom, you know how I’m reading Luke?”
Yeah.
“Well, have you ever read chapter 10?”
I’m sure I have, but which story is it?
He passes me his open bible and this is what I see staring back me.
The story of Mary and Martha
My heart sank, because I knew what he was getting at. Before I go on, let me share the story with you.
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: 38-42
Ouch.
My 14 year old son had recognized my Martha spirit and he was sharing a Word with ME! I wish I could say that he was sharing this passage with me because he was reminded of my Mary-ness, but I knew better. My son is so black and white that he had figured I must have never read this story before. I mean, I must not have, since I’m always acting like a bitter crazy Martha, right? Wrong.
I’m familiar with the story. I’ve read it a thousand times. Ironically, I even have a book by Joanna Weaver, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World 
My heart was full of joy that my son is growing the The Word AND felt like he could share his wisdom with me. I’m so blessed to have him. But, his reminder was a loving conviction that I do not want to ignore. When your child calls you out in such a loving and understanding way, you would be a fool to do nothing! I would hate for him to think he shared God’s Word and his heart with me only to be met with zero results.
He wasn’t trying to make me feel bad, and I don’t. I won’t let guilt get the glory here, because then I would still be missing out. My son was lovingly sharing something he thought would benefit me. How lucky am I?
Now, I guess I better do some work in the Martha areas of my life before I completely miss out on “what is better”.
I thanked my sweet boy for calling me out.
I love him!
Someday I’m going to look back on life and my fleeting time with these precious boys, and realize how much time I wasted being a Martha, OR I could change the future today!
Have your kids ever called you out on something? What was it? How did you take the blow?
I’m sharing this post at Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop today.
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Well, it certainly wouldn’t be as a Martha. (Though how I wish I had her skill set.) They have called me out for being on the computer too much. On my phone too much. Probably all true.
Jamie@SouthMainMuse recently posted..What’s Broken? My Left Boob?
Twitter: fromtracie
says:
I’ve been called out for being short on patience. And I’m working on it. Reminding myself to take a breath and think before I speak. Hard stuff.
I love that your boy read the Bible and so lovingly shared his insights with you. That is a blessing.
Tracie recently posted..Important Television Advice
Twitter: kimahall
says:
Oooh, talk about being convicted! Isn’t it great when all of our teaching begins to really come to the forefront and they begin to teach us? While it is absolutely terrific, it is tremendously humbling as well.
My youngest has called me out more times than I can count. At first, I was hurt…because she was right. I have since learned to react more with gratitude for her wanting to help to shape and direct my spirit and words to the mom and woman I want to be. At the end of the day, after many discussions and the passage of time, she is aware and is correcting with love, and allows me to do the same. Win-win!
Kim recently posted..Mom & Dad-I want to be a Navy SEAL, Part 2
I am having a hard time not being a Martha these days too – “we” are homeschooling our 5th grader for the first time and I am overwhelmed with this new “full-time job”. It’s a struggle to not feel a bit resentful that my workload has seemed to double…triple….this school year. I have to remember that by saying yes to home school, I wasn’t saying no to all the other household duties I normally do…it’s a balancing act. Thanks for the reminder.
Emily @ My Pajama Days recently posted..Things I don’t say out loud
Twitter: fiercedivablog
says:
Oh, I love it! And I am in awe that he did it in such a loving way and through the words of the Bible at that! You have quite a special boy. My kids call me out for being “mean” all the time – LOL! as they should. I like that they won’t take it from anybody!
ilene recently posted..Rock My Root Chakra
Ooh, my oldest daughter, 10, calls me out all the time. She’s such a rule follower. I guess that’s good? Sometimes a bit too much though. I try to get her to loosen up and then I feel like the bad one! And then she’ll call me out on the bad stuff- speeding, texting and driving. Not my finest moments. Do as I say- not as I do??? Everyday I strive to be a better person for them. Quite a few times I don’t quite make the cut.
Twitter: thedosetweets
says:
This one made me cry. I so related to everything you said. My older daughter especially has a way of calling me out (gently sometimes) on my tendency to get overstressed, which causes me to be overly impatient and sharp with my girls. It makes me so sad when she says it, because I always know she is right. Thank you for sharing this story.
thedoseofreality recently posted..Head to Head: Best of the 1980′s Fads
Twitter: themommymess
says:
It’s kind of bittersweet. I’m so proud of him for getting in his bible study and growing in the Word, bit it sort of sucked that he thought I was a “too busy”. Sigh…
Twitter: TheMomCafe
says:
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! First of all, I have that book and actually read it, and it is GOOD.
How amazing that your son was so insightful and wise to see how this story relates to you! On the flip side, um…we are all MARTHAS!!! Find me a Mary, and I’ll pay you a buck! You can always come back with this: “This story is a beautiful message that is to inspire moms everywhere (all women) to stop the busyness and complaining and be with God.” Something like that anyway!! Or you could always give the talk about how His word shares many many lessons we all must try hard to apply to our lives, not just THIS one! 
Chris Carter recently posted..Extraordinary Mom…
Twitter: themommymess
says:
I’m gonna have to get that book off the shelf, and read it!