An Open Letter to Mary

Please read Luke 10:38-42

Dear Mary,

My friend Katy visited her dad in Atlanta last week and told me a story that totally reminded me of you. I am thinking of the time that Jesus came to visit you and your sister and how Jesus needed to give Martha some relationship advice!

Sadly, Katy’s mom passed away last year so she made a special trip to help her Dad with the sorting, wrapping, boxing and storing of her mom’s things. She didn’t have much time there but she knows how to tackle a task and she is a hard worker (kind of like your sister).

Well, the first night Katy couldn’t sleep so she went downstairs into one of the large rooms filled with things her mom had been collecting, things that now needed to be sorted. ‘Why, oh why, did you buy all these things, Mom? Look at all this STUFF!’ As she looked more carefully at the items in the crammed room, she realized that most of the shelves were filled with items her mom had bought as gifts for other people. Her mom was all about showing people she cared for them by giving them gifts. The room was full of gifts for specific people but also many were there just to have on hand so she could give them at a moments notice. Her mom’s life was characterized by her amazing relationships with others, from the garbage man, to the lady who did her dry cleaning and it extended to every neighbor on their block. This room was just a window into the relationships that truly were her way of life.
As Katy stood in that room, in the middle of the night, she said suddenly several things became crystal clear. All the stuff around her meant nothing apart from the relationships to which they belonged. It was merely ‘stuff ‘. Relationships are what outlast a house full of things. She knew exactly what had to happen in the morning.

Instead of a frantic day of sorting through which items should be kept, Katy reclaimed those few precious hours in Atlanta with her dad. They went out for breakfast. She helped him get some new jeans. They strolled in the park and went to a movie. She said they had such a precious time that day, laughing, crying, reminiscing and just being together. Everything, all the 'stuff’ could get packed up and given away because it was truly unimportant. I think Jesus would have said the same thing he said to you, Mary, ‘[Katy] has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her’.

I know I tend to be a lot more like your sister, Martha, busy, getting everything sorted. So, I wanted to thank you and my friend Katy for being such good reminders of how Jesus created us for relationships.

Sincerely,
Shannon

P.S. I’ve included a picture of Katy and her dad, Coby.

Shannon Wittenberg