oh mornings. oh blissfully sweet mornings. new mercies. new sunshine. new chances. new.

I walked down to the barn to check on two mothers who are ready to have their calves. No new babies. But, a balmy breeze sweetly caressed the earth. Mornings like this... when walking somewhere at 7:30 am, when it's warm enough to wear shorts from the moment you get out of bed, when the sun is already beating its rays down to earth... reminds me of the early, early Dominican mornings. The only things missing: the ocean, the faint scent of ripe mangoes, barefooted babies, sugar can villages, my best friend and her two baby girls, Kiko and his family, and well... a lot more.

But, mornings like this, regardless of all those "missing" things, make me feel  like God is walking right next to me. He knows what brings me joy... every second. He knows that I love green, living things and bright blue sky and humid breezes and waking early and feeling the sun's rays. He is so so personal. He is so very good.

I can't get over that: He is so good...

It's kind of like He's whispering: "You are important. you are smart. you are kind. you have the ability, through Me, to accomplish much. you just have to taste and see! you just have to trust. you just have to look for Me. I AM. Sweet daughter, I AM..."

It makes me want to jump for joy. Continuously.

****

Mary. Not Mary Magdalene (but we will get to her). Not Mary, the mother of Jesus (I skipped that chapter... but I'll go back).

Mary.

You know! The sister of Martha.
Mary, who often gets looked at negatively because she sat while Martha worked.

Boy, do we have it all wrong! I think most of us judge her "inactivity" when we're feeling especially vulnerable, because we just run around like chickens with our heads cut off. Working. Running. Even squawking most of the time!

But Mary's heart was right where it needed to be. She could have been helping her sister. It's actually what would've been expected in those days (and is usually still expected in these days)! Yet, she got comfortable at the feet of Jesus, while Martha was acting as the busy hostess.

I've listened to countless wise men explain that Mary should have helped Martha. They all mean well. They are all trying to understand from our perspective and Mary and Martha's culture. I mean, we all like help most of the time right?

But... they're all wrong.

If Jesus was sitting right next to me, if He was teaching, if He was spending time in my house... I'd want to be JUST LIKE MARY. She had the right perspective. She knew what matters.

Do i? would i be like Mary if He was here right now?

I have to be honest: when I have guests over, I am much like Martha. Actually, I'm probably like Martha was every day. Organizing. Cleaning. Serving. Enjoying it all. There's nothing wrong with all those things. There's nothing wrong with being a busy hostess, making meals, serving people who come to your house. There's nothing wrong with organization. God actually encourages it (1 Corinthians 14: 40)! But God gently reprimanded Martha, because she was just doing to impress Jesus. She became frustrated with her sister and ultimately called Mary out on it, even though she (Mary) was doing the right thing!

Mary knew that all that was good and right was to be found sitting at the feet of Jesus. This is also evident in the other places that she is mentioned in the Bible. She knew that nothing mattered as much as Jesus... not money, or family, or possessions, or even being the best hostess ever. She found her breath of fresh air in sitting at His feet. Her reverent heart realized, long before Martha, that she would only be with Jesus for a short time (thus signified by her anointing Him with oil). She wanted to drink up His presence as much as possible. She wanted to experience the fullness of God represented in Jesus. She knew she needed Him to live eternally. She knew she needed Him to function properly. She understood... before even most of the disciples did... that He came to save.

Oh that I would have the faith of Mary! That I would choose to sit at the feet of Jesus Christ, instead of running around doing laundry and getting groceries and cleaning the bathroom. That I would remember that He is worthy, He saved me, He loves me, He is real, He is tangible...

I want to sit at the feet of Jesus. I don't want to go through the motions, like Martha. I want my whole heart to be sitting at the feet of Jesus, becoming more like Him.

I'm understanding Mary better than ever. I wish I could've had the opportunity to sit at Jesus' feet in person. It would have been indescribably holy and beautiful.

Dishes can wait a little longer. Laundry piles can wait to be folded a little longer.

Jesus matters more.

That's what Mary thought. No, that's what she knew.

She was right.