I’ll Never Be A Martha. I’ll Never Be A June

I had high hopes for today.  Day number three of a cleaning challenge with my sweet Mommy friends.  I just knew that today I would successfully host, cook for, and serve with grace two different groups in my home, do the laundry, clean my cabinets, read my book, play with the boys, write my blog, work on a few websites, update files, change diapers, scrub the toilet, sweep and mop, organize toys, read and respond to tweets and emails, feed my children, and have my quiet time.

I would be the perfect wife, mother, friend, and leader.  I certainly wouldn’t cut my finger, knock over and break some glass jars waking my 2 year old from his nap which in turn woke the baby, get frustrated with my 3 year old because he had to go to the bathroom while I was in the middle of chopping jalapenos, giggle through prayer, move the clean clothes from one spot to another and then back to the first spot still unfolded, or give my children cupcakes for breakfast.  And I was sure I wouldn’t leave dishes in my sink while collapsing into bed to sleep a few hours until the first of my children wakes in the middle of the night.

I was going to be Martha Stewart.  I was going to be June Cleaver.  But after today I am sure I will never be Martha.  I will never be June.  I will always be Christy.

And I wonder how long it will take for me to realize that being Christy is enough.  Sure I have dishes in my sink, but I also have Jesus in my heart!  I have something to offer that neither Martha nor June ever could.  Myself.  

God has given me so much to give.  If only I’d stop pretending to be something I’m not and truly step into who He created me to be I could accomplish the works He has planned for me.  And that is something so much greater than what the world has planned for me.

When Peter saw the cripple in the following passage, the world expected him to give money.  Good Jews gave money to crippled beggars.  It was the right thing to do.  It was respectable.  It was expected.  But Peter knew that God had given him something greater, had called him to be something greater.  And instead of pretending to be who everyone else was and to have what everyone else had, he was who God made him to be and he gave what God gave to him.  

So I may not have all my laundry put away.  My hair may not be fixed (or washed for that matter).  I may not wear dresses or heels.  I may let my boys draw on my t-shirt with chalk.  I may run around in worn out tennis shoes.  I may not do crafts daily or know how to turn a coffee filter into 50 different useful items.  But I will offer all I have and all I am up to Him as a beautiful sweet smelling sacrifice that only I can offer.  

Peter said, "I don't have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!"  He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm.

He jumped to his feet and walked.  Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God.  They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple's Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing.

Acts 3:6-10