One of my worst pet peeves is hearing somebody say, “I have no time.”

No time? No time to do what? No time to get your own responsibilities done?

This past week, I heard someone say they had no time to get their laundry out of the dryer, do the dishes they had dirtied, or go through their mail. No time? Well, my first thought was, if they don’t  take time for it then who will?

Somebody else will need to take the clothes out of the dryer. Somebody else will have to wash all the dirty dishes – since they will eventually run out of coffee mugs and plates. The mail might get thrown away if it looks like junk mail – oh….but what if it isn’t junk mail, but something important, that gets thrown away.

Really? No time for one person means someone else has to make time. Maybe, we should have more of a Christian heart and be of service and help out…. but when we feel our time is precious and then we have to make more time – it gets overwhelming and downright stressful and frustrating. I wonder if this is how Martha felt?

I know when my time gets encroached upon and I find myself doing extra work that I shouldn’t have to do…. I get angry and frustrated.  And I probably don’t handle it the way I should. Oft times, I get a bad attitude and words come out of my mouth that may be hurtful.

But seriously, folks, when you say, I have no time to do what you are responsible for –  somebody else has to take the time to do your job. I feel bad for Martha…. because she is the one who got rebuked.

Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.

And what does Jesus reply to her? 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.”

Sometimes, it feels like housework is never ending… and when one person adds extra work to our already never ending to do list….it’s hard to remember to “choose the good part, which will not be taken away.” 

Then again – we sometimes get so caught up in the tyranny of they urgent – that we forget what is truly important. Could the dishes have waited til Jesus had gone? Yeah…probably. Could Martha have served pizza instead of a huge lamb dinner?  Yeah – who doesn’t like pizza?

Remember, the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland? 

I’m late. I’m late for a very important date
No time to say hello, good-bye,
I’m late, I’m late, I’m late
I’m late and when I wave,
I lose the time I save.
My fuzzy ears and whiskers
Took me too much time to shave.
I run and then I hop, hop, hop,
I wish that I could fly.
There’s danger if I dare to
Stop and here’s a reason why:
I’m over-due, I’m in a rabbit stew.
Can’t even say good-bye,
Hello, I’m late, I’m late, I’m late.

That was one rabbit that fell into the trap of the urgent.

No time to wave or say good-bye? Danger if you dare to stop? In a rabbit stew? How many times are we feeling so busy… we forget to wave hello, or say good-bye or say, I Love You to the ones who matter in our lives. What is the danger if we don’t stop to lend a listening ear? We may have just shut out someone who needs to talk – who needs a lifeline.

It’s important to follow your dreams, and enjoy down time. It’s good to set goals and work towards achieving them. Always be ready to lend a helping hand and listening ear. It’s important to do that… and remember…. If it matters you make the time… if it doesn’t you make the excuses.

And if life does get overwhelming and frustrating…. and you feel you have no time…. be patient, help is on the way.

sometimes – even the Martha’s would like a little help….

Thanks for reading

Positively, Debbie