Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
(Luke 10:38-40 NKJV)
Am I the only one who can relate to Martha in this passage of scripture? Inviting people into my home and then busying myself with the work of hosting. Feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and left out because I’m the one in the kitchen working and serving. All the while longing to be Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, enjoying the company of the guests.
I consider myself to be a task-orientated person. I make lists, check them off, and struggle to rest until everything is complete. When hosting, I work hard to make sure everyone else is having a good time. I have a difficult time pulling myself away from the task to be present and enjoy the moment. I spend all my energy trying to execute a perfect meal, and I miss the chance to fellowship with others. I’ll be transparent, this is one of my big struggles.
Cinco de Mayo is coming up and a great time to put together a nice dinner for family/friends. I found these super cute taco holders that I know will be special for dinner that night. The best part is that they are dishwasher-safe and toddler-friendly. Can it get any better than that?
To avoid missing the party this year, I plan to cook these amazing shrimp tacos. They are spicy, fresh, and delicious! Because the shrimp is spicy, I’ll make a cheese quesadilla for a toddler-friendly option. The fact that I can prepare the tacos ahead of time will allow me the opportunity to spend time with my family and not stay busy working in the kitchen.
The “perfect” meal isn’t more important than the company that sits at my table. My family won’t remember every detail of the decorations, but they will remember my presence at the table talking, laughing, and being engaged in their lives. I don’t want to be the mom who spends all of her time in the kitchen that my son doesn’t have the memories of me being present in the moment. I don’t want to miss the party!
