Slave to Daughter: Made Like Martha

Slave to Daughter: Made Like Martha

The very first time I met Katie M. Reid we talked about Martha.  Martha, Martha, Martha…  how can someone so efficient, so committed, so justified in her ways, be wrong?  And if she was wrong, was her very creation wrong?  And if so, and we were so much like her, how could we ever be different? And if we were to be different, why did this God make us like this?  The conversation was the beginning of Katie’s and my journey into the arms of Grace.  The simple fact was, God made Martha, and He wasn’t expecting her to morph into Mary, He was asking her to rest in the completed work of belonging to Him.

Spoiler alert:  This is no easy task for a doer.  Essentially, you are free.  You can rest.  You do what you do, but your hard work or lack of work do not change the loving sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.  He just loves you.

I was over the moon when Katie’s book was picked up by a publisher.

And when I held it in my hands, I knew I wanted to do something special to celebrate the occasion.  So, I messaged Katie’s husband, Adam, withdrew some funds from savings and booked a trip to surprise Katie and her book launch party at Baker Books in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

All systems were go, except for one key ingredient, confidence in my flight.  And a bigger dilemma still?  Katie is my prayer buddy.  I do not like to fly.  Like, tazed by TSA, screaming, crying, snot flinging, don’t like to fly, kind of don’t like to fly.  If I must fly, Katie is my prayer warrior for smooth, easy flying.  People say… “You’re more likely to die driving than flying!”  But I am not afraid of dying, let me see my Jesus.  I am afraid of FLYING.  Small spaces, heights, turbulence… yeah.  I don’t like it.  Adding to my stress was an economy cheap ticket, a middle seat at the back of the plane, which tends to be bumpier, stuffier, and more traumatic for me.

As I drove to the Houston airport, I talked out loud to Jesus.

Tempted, I wanted to message Katie and say, “I am flying somewhere, I can’t tell you where, but please pray for me.” Jesus and I decided against that. I pulled into the parking garage and tried to swallow.  My hands were trembling, my heart was pounding, and I was without my usual prayer help from my fellow Martha, Katie.

In addition to surprising Katie, I had packed an extra suitcase with new-to-them bedding for Katie’s daughters.  The day before I had taken the huge package to the post office only to learn it would be nearly $80.00 to ship the gift to the Reid girls.  So, I decided to pack another suitcase with the fun items and check it for what I thought would be $25.00.  As I pulled the luggage to check in I chanted my usual mantra, “You walk in the favor of the Lord, He is for you and with you.  You walk in the favor of the Lord, He is for you and with you….”

This statement has been my life’s breath since I fell into the message of Grace.

I am His girl, He loves me, and He loves to take care of me.  The years before the message of Grace I said things like, “I am the worst, God hates me, I make God crazy, and if only I were better… maybe God wouldn’t be so tired of messing with me.”  But when I learned about the truth of the New Covenant, I am a beloved daughter, I started to say this so that I could retrain myself to understand the blessing of this truth.

At this point I was visibly shaken, the clerk helped me type in my Frequent Flyer information at the kiosk. I checked my ticket and was scanning the suitcase when an attendant waved at me to come to the counter, “Mrs. Amerine!  Don’t check those!”

I headed toward the woman’s counter, “Is something wrong?”

“No ma’am, the clerk at self-checkout alerted me to your flying status and award number.  We have a pretty open flight.  I can offer you a different seat if you would like, and possibly help you lower the cost of checking two bags.  She typed away on her computer and then said, “Yes, I can upgrade you to first class both ways for less than the cost of checking two bags.  Would you like to do that?  I have a window seat available both ways as well.”

Let me think… hmmm…. YES!!!!! 

It was just a nudge, maybe even a coincidence.  But in the scary moment…  it was a nudge for a frightened daughter from a loving Father.  I gladly accepted.  And while it was hard to fly, it was easier next to a window, up at the front, and reclining in a big First Class seat.  I walk in the favor of the Lord, and delight in His blessings and provision.

The Father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.” Luke 15:31

Questions to Consider: Has there been a little “God wink” you have refused because you thought you weren’t worthy or didn’t deserve it?  We can give God thanks for every single way we are blessed; from a coupon for ½ off milk to a miraculous healing.  Can you see the benefits of acknowledging the little things in getting in the habit of the big blessing of being His girl?