Since the beginning of February, I have felt like I am running on a treadmill - trying to catch up with God. Have you ever felt that way? With everything going on, the more you do the less you feel that you are accomplishing anything. I often get discouraged. Ready to give up because it seems never ending. The good news is, it doesn't have to feel that way.
Getting the prom closet ready to open for the season is a huge task. There are so many moving parts from getting the closet cleaned, making and hanging new curtains, getting tags for dresses, getting our war room ready for volunteers, making jewelry tags, sorting shoes and on and on. Why not add to the mix my insecurities: What if we don't have enough? That sometimes gives me anxiety on top of all the things that demand my attention like God (yes, God requires our attention), my family, job, life and so on. See that treadmill? On the outside I appear calm, collected, and positive but on the inside, I can be a hot mess!
The day before we were set to open for the season, we took the Prom Closet “on the go” to a high school in Winston-Salem. On top of all the things we had to do we added unloading and reloading racks of dresses. Going in on the first day we were already tired from the trip.
I feel tired just thinking about it and you probably feel tired just reading this…
But, then God steps in.
Have you ever heard the story of Martha and her sister Mary from Luke 10:38-42? Martha opened her house to welcome Jesus. Can you imagine what you would do if Jesus was coming to your house? I know I would faint first and then get busy cleaning!
Both ladies offer their forms of leadership to Jesus. Martha is a doer and gets down to serving. Mary on the other hand offers a tremendous act of worship and sits at the feet of Jesus. Many times I have heard "Be a Mary not Martha,” but what if I am both? There are times when I respond by doing rather than in worship.
The part I love about this story is that both had a genuine conversation with Jesus. Just because Martha asked Jesus "Lord don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me." (Luke 10"40b) Jesus didn't reject her. He didn't say to her “Listen Missy, do you know who I am?”
He doesn't mind that we tell him exactly how we feel. Let's face it, He already knows.
My point is it takes time and effort to get the Prom Closet ready because we want to welcome students and their families into our home. We don't want them to see our dust bunnies. The great part is our Prom Squad volunteers have both Martha and Mary personalities.
I remember Saturday being tired, worried, and anxious. I usually am tired on opening day because I don't sleep well from fear that I won't get up in time. So, I put on my Martha spirit. Then in our "war room" our squad gathered for the first time in the season to pray. I Remember praying for energy, for each of our squad members, and for the families coming in. We were able to display our Mary spirit and worship at the feet of God.
Then the clock struck 9 a.m. and Martha was back in all of us!
Blessings,
Aileen
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| The "War Room" |
