A Woman of Courage: Mary of Bethany
I really want to share a beautiful story out of the Bible that is often overlooked in John 11 and Luke 10 . Often in our life, we find times where we feel either that we stick out like a soar thumb or that we are fading into the walls. We often listen too much to the judgement and exceptions of others. I have felt both instances through out my life especially being a young woman in the military. Often I find people that not only ask me more than once if I am seriously in the military because I do not appear to be older than 15 years of age.
Mary was a woman of few words that often faded in compared to her brother and sister. Could you imagine competing with a brother that rose from the dead and a sister that served the Lord? Even though Mary only says a few lines in the Bible, she is important figure of the bible because she shows true courage especially in a time where women did not have any rights what so ever... Mary sat next to Jesus in her brothers home and listened to Jesus speak in a time when woman did not have a place with the men:
Martha went to him, "Lord do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me" But the lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, You are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her" Luke 10:40-41
Mary's devotion to Jesus showed her faithfulness to the lord even though her brother Lazarus, which was her livelihood to live in a day where women did not work as the men cared for them, was ill. I don't want to downgrade Martha as it is our duty to serve but often we forget when we are serving to listen to the Lord as Mary did. Mary reminds us all that our God is the only thing that is important in our lives and not to focus on the judgement and expectations of others. Only one thing is needed in our lives...
We can refer this story to one of my favorite book serious of all times Narnia by C.S. Lewis. When Lucy is the only person that can see Aslan, everyone else does not believe her and they decide not to follow her. Instead they take the path down the hill,which is the easier path, rather than going up the hill which is a more difficult path. This path leads them into much greater danger and a dead end which they must turn around and take the path which Lucy had originally led them to. Even though Lucy had been clearly right all along, not once does she say, "I told you so". This is a very important lesson to learn as God will lead you even when you take the wrong path and not once does he say, "I told you so". Our god shows love and compassion for everyone no matter what circumstances are.
These stories teach us so many life lesson which often people will never learn during their life. We must learn that standing out or fading in to the walls is never to be looked down upon as our god has a greater purpose for us. As in both Mary's and Lucy's case, they both stayed strong for what they believed even if it meant standing out from everyone else. One of my favorite lines of all times is, "Why do you try so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out." God created us to be our own original person. Sometimes we must fail several times before we finally find our way, but through it all, our god is always there for us.
To be continued....
Mary was a woman of few words that often faded in compared to her brother and sister. Could you imagine competing with a brother that rose from the dead and a sister that served the Lord? Even though Mary only says a few lines in the Bible, she is important figure of the bible because she shows true courage especially in a time where women did not have any rights what so ever... Mary sat next to Jesus in her brothers home and listened to Jesus speak in a time when woman did not have a place with the men:
Martha went to him, "Lord do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me" But the lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, You are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her" Luke 10:40-41
Mary's devotion to Jesus showed her faithfulness to the lord even though her brother Lazarus, which was her livelihood to live in a day where women did not work as the men cared for them, was ill. I don't want to downgrade Martha as it is our duty to serve but often we forget when we are serving to listen to the Lord as Mary did. Mary reminds us all that our God is the only thing that is important in our lives and not to focus on the judgement and expectations of others. Only one thing is needed in our lives...
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We can refer this story to one of my favorite book serious of all times Narnia by C.S. Lewis. When Lucy is the only person that can see Aslan, everyone else does not believe her and they decide not to follow her. Instead they take the path down the hill,which is the easier path, rather than going up the hill which is a more difficult path. This path leads them into much greater danger and a dead end which they must turn around and take the path which Lucy had originally led them to. Even though Lucy had been clearly right all along, not once does she say, "I told you so". This is a very important lesson to learn as God will lead you even when you take the wrong path and not once does he say, "I told you so". Our god shows love and compassion for everyone no matter what circumstances are.
Image Via Google
These stories teach us so many life lesson which often people will never learn during their life. We must learn that standing out or fading in to the walls is never to be looked down upon as our god has a greater purpose for us. As in both Mary's and Lucy's case, they both stayed strong for what they believed even if it meant standing out from everyone else. One of my favorite lines of all times is, "Why do you try so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out." God created us to be our own original person. Sometimes we must fail several times before we finally find our way, but through it all, our god is always there for us.
To be continued....
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