Martha and Mary

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. Her sister Mary sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!'

Martha's complaint is reasonable. Someone has to prepare the meal. But Jesus's response honors Mary's choice to sit and listen. Not because Martha's work is unimportant. But because presence—actually being attentive to Jesus—supersedes it. I've had to learn to distinguish between urgent tasks and what actually matters.