Vern has refused to eat. His belly has shrunken and he is lethargic. Instead of jumping up to take a walk, he chooses to lie on the sofa or in my husband’s lap. I am tempted to worry about him. And because of this worry, Vern’s dish has been placed in front of him more times than I can count.
I can so relate to Martha. Here is a woman who invites Jesus and his disciples into her home. She is thrilled to create a tasty meal and unforgettable experience for her savior, Jesus. The only problem with the situation was that Martha’s sister Mary was not doing her part. The meal wasn’t getting prepared and the men weren’t being served in the manner that this woman had expected.
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:40-42)
Wow, what a response to Martha. Instead of giving her a reason to believe she has a right to worry, he turns her attention to what is most important, himself. I must admit, I choose worry over focusing on the love of Jesus.
As much as I want to force Vern to eat, I have come to realize that I don’t have control over when and how much he will consume. I can choose to worry about him or I can realize that even Vern’s health is in the hands of God. Thankfully, if he doesn’t eat, I am only a couple minutes away from my veterinarian. Only time will tell.
