One thing is needful...

Image courtesy of DrAjao @ www.DrAjao.com

One valuable lesson that I’ve learned as a public health professional in maternal and child health is that a child reaching his or her 1st birthday is a big deal. So you can imagine our zeal as my son and I have been celebrating 1st birthdays back to back every weekend now. With at least one, sometimes two or three celebrations to attend, we’ve had to plan our time wisely as a family. But it is such a joy to celebrate with families whose little ones have reached this milestone.

In fact, the first significant 1st birthday party I helped to celebrate in my adult life was that of my first nephew. Having rented a hall for the celebration, we got there early to arrange tables and chairs and to start the decorations. Several adults were there helping to prepare, and the birthday boy was present as well. As I diligently helped to set up tables and place centerpieces, I noticed that my husband was not helping. In fact, he was sitting down leisurely playing intently with the birthday boy! Obviously annoyed that he wasn’t pitching in, my intentions were to approach him to complain. However, before making those moves, I stopped to consider the scenario more closely.

There and then, it dawned on me that my husband had chosen the principle thing: his focus was on the most important entity in the room! We were there to celebrate my nephew on his 1st birthday, thus, all of the fan-fare, planned activities and logistics were really second-place to the reality that we have a happy, hearty and healthy child to celebrate.

This reminded me of the Biblical account of Mary and Martha when Jesus came to visit (Please read Luke 10:38-42). Martha was busy working, and serving, and preparing, while Mary sat lovingly at the feet of Jesus, taking in His enduring Word. As my husband laughed and played with the jolly toddler, I had to appreciate his choice to focus on the celebrant rather than on the celebration.

So in a way, this is a lesson to all of us adults: in all of the trivial activities and busy work we do, let’s not forget that relationship is what is important; spending quality time with our kids and letting them know of their special significance to us i.e. “being” for them rather than just “doing” for them. But of course, let my experience be another way for you to grasp what the Scripture is emphasizing in the Book of Luke.

I pray for the grace to spend each moment concentrating on what is needful.

-Lyrics by tia

September 29, 2011 5:45-6:12am