It’s so easy to be a Martha. Running around fulfilling our ministry and/or family responsibilities with little regard for ourselves and our own needs. There’s Bible study to lead. There are home visits to be made. Homeschool lessons need to be taught. Language lessons need some time. The shopping needs to be done. The donor letters need to be written. Oh, and by the way, it’s dinner time and what’s for supper has not even been considered. There are many details in our lives that we can be worried and upset about as we try to live the ministry life we are called to. Yes, these are things that are important and need to be done, but we must be careful that they don’t outweigh something even more important: our spiritual well-being.  

Self-care has become a trendy word referring to the need to think about oneself amid our busy lives. I found this online description of self-care to be a well-rounded definition that also spoke to the reason why self-care is important:  

Self-care refers to anything that you do to keep yourself mentally, emotionally, physically, socially and spiritually healthy. If you don't practice self-care regularly, you're risking your well-being and inviting burnout. (https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/health/what-is-self-care)  

It sounds like Mary in this instance of Luke 10:40-42, saw the opportunity to sit at Jesus’ feet as a moment of self-care. She probably had been helping Martha prior to Jesus’ arrival but when He came, she found the need to sit at His feet to listen to His teaching more important. This became her chance to be spiritually nourished, and Jesus even highlighted the importance of Mary’s wise choice; a choice which eventually leads one to being nourished mentally, emotionally, physically and socially.   

Mary, unbeknownst to her, set us an example of self-care in what has become a well-known account of the two sisters, Martha and Mary. We can all aspire to follow Mary’s example of taking a moment to stop the busyness of life and sit still before Jesus. Through prayer and time in His word, this spiritual nourishment we shall receive will help us to become mentally, emotionally, physically and socially healthy and well-equipped ministers who are able to continue the work God has called us to in our global communities and in our families.