As Christmas approaches, the to-do list keeps getting longer and my days feel like they’re getting shorter. The programs, the presents, the parties, the preparations! The more things pile up, the more I feel my anxiety rise. 

There are so many “good” things to be doing throughout the holidays. But are those things crowding the “Christ” out of Christmas? It’s easy to be so busy with kingdom work that we forget about time for the King.

This week I was reminded of Jesus’s visit with Martha and Mary in Luke 10. We are told that Martha was “distracted with much serving.” (vs 40) She was trying as hard as she could to make Jesus feel comfortable and at home. And as she was running around trying to make everything perfect for her divine guest, she started questioning why her sister wasn’t doing anything at all to help. Mary was just sitting at Jesus’s feet doing nothing!. 

But Mary was actually doing everything.

You can hear the love and compassion in Jesus’s voice when he says, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.” (vs 41-42a)

Necessary! What a convicting word! Not just important. Not just maybe a good idea. What Mary was doing, sitting at the feet of her Savior, was the thing that was absolutely essential.

Have I been making time for the “necessary?”

“Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (vs 42b)

What is the “good portion” that Mary chose? She wasn’t just sitting with Jesus and chatting. Her posture says so much about what was going on. The fact that she was sitting at Jesus’s feet shows her state of humility, her attentiveness to His words, her devotion to Him. That time spent listening to and learning from Him was priceless – the bonding taking place at that moment was something that no one could ever take away.

Sure, all the opportunities to serve and celebrate this Christmas season are important. But let them never get in the way of beautiful moments of worshipping and communing with Christ.

Lord, help me to prioritize the “necessary” this holiday season. Thank you that you offer streams of living water that I so desperately need. Let me make time to experience Your presence and your peace.