She Did What She Could

Recently, I went on my longest run in order to cap off my training for the Dallas Marathon in December.  I had been adding about 2 miles to each of my long runs the past few weekends which culminated in an 18 mile run.  The typical long run before a marathon is about 20 miles.  On the ride home, I was happy about my run but those 2 miles haunted me.  Why did I stop at 18?  Am I still ready for a marathon without doing the full 20?  Will those 2 miles keep me from reaching my goal?

Ridiculous, right?  But we do it all the time in so many areas of our lives.

Why didn’t I get up an hour earlier to start cleaning the house?

Why didn’t I plan that lesson better so my kiddos would be able to really understand fractions?

Why didn’t I stay at work an hour later to finish this yesterday?

My mom and I go to Sweet Celebration at Stonebriar Community Church every year.  It is an evening where mostly women get together to hear a special message and EAT DESSERT!  It always falls right around my birthday and is a great excuse to go crazy at multiple dessert buffet tables.  There is always a guest speaker before the dessert consumption.  There is a message from one year in particular that stuck with me.  I do not remember the guest speaker, but I do remember the title of the message “She Did What She Could”. 

The speaker referenced the passage in the Bible where Jesus goes to the home of Martha and Mary.  Martha is basically running around like a hot mess trying to prepare everything to make it perfect for Jesus while Mary sits at His feet listening to Him.  Martha calls out Mary for being lazy and Jesus snaps back telling Martha she needs to chill and Mary has made the right decision. 

(Luke 10:38-42)

This time of year it is so easy to feel like your best is not good enough.  It is easy to question if you even did your best.  Did you give as much as you could?  Did you work as hard as you could?  Did you make everyone happy?  And all of these questions take away from resting and spending time with loved ones which is what this season is all about.

When I get wrapped up in not feeling like I did enough, I often repeat the title of that message and it brings me peace.  It is not an excuse.  It is the recognition that I will never be perfect.  I will always be my biggest critic.  I will always have something to strive for next time.  But for today, for this moment, “she did what she could”.

Buzz Ya Later,

Whit