Yesterday at Church I had a huge weight lifted off my heart and spirit. I had been stereotyped by a dear friend a couple years back of being a “Martha”. This was not meant in a positive light. It was a very negative comment and has rested heavy on my heart for a long time. I felt saddened by it and couldn’t reconcile how being busy in service was bad. I knew of my strong faith and love of the Savior but allowed this to somewhat stop my spiritual progression.
During Relief Society, Sister Amy Johnson from the Stake RS Presidency came to speak to us. She asked us who we saw ourselves more like, Mary or Martha. I knew I was more like Martha. I am a doer! I keep busy and I am out there serving on committees and always serving. She said today you will be happy that you are like Martha. My heart opened and my Spirit was ready to be taught. I felt love like I hadn’t felt in a long time from my Savior and acceptance of my good works. It is okay to be a “Martha”. We all have different gifts, talents and personalities. It is not better to be like Mary than to be like Martha. Both loved The Lord but they went about day to day life differently.
No RS lesson has touched me like this one did. I needed to hear these words to free myself from the guilt that I had been carrying around for being like Martha. This led me to dig deeper into the scriptures and to look for other writings on Mary and Martha. I wanted to know more. I came across an old book written over a century ago about women of the Bible. I have found comfort in the description of Martha and I am proud to be found in her company.
WOMAN IN SACRED HISTORY A SERIES OF SKETCHES DRAWN FROM SCRIPTURAL, HISTORICAL, AND LEGENDARY SOURCES
- January 1, 1873
“Martha, in her Judsean dress and surroundings, is, after all, exactly such a good woman as is often seen in our modern life, — a woman primarily endowed with the faculties necessary for getting on in the world, yet sincerely religious. She is energetic, business-like, matter-of-fact, strictly orthodox, and always ready for every emergency. She lives in the present life strongly and intensely, and her religion exhibits itself through regular forms and agencies. She believes in the future life orthodoxly, and is always prompt to confess its superior importance as a matter of doctrine, though prone to make material things the first in practice. Many such women there are in the high places of the Christian Church, and much good they do. They manage fairs, they dress churches, they get up religious festivals, their names are on committees, they are known at celebrations. They rule their own homes with activity and diligence, and they are justly honored by all who know them. Now, nothing is more remarkable in the history of Jesus than the catholicity of his appreciation of character. He never found fault with natural organization, or expected all people to be of one pattern. He did not break with Thomas for being naturally a cautious doubter, or Peter for being a precipitate believer ; and it is specially recorded in the history of this family that Jesus loved Martha. He understood her, he appreciated her worth, and he loved her.”
