Care About the Important Stuff

     Years ago I would begin preparing for my parents' visits almost a month ahead of time. I would clean the oven and refrigerator. I would seek and destroy cobwebs. At other times I cleaned, but not like I did when my mother was coming. Somehow I felt like I would be judged if something was out of place, dusty, or unkempt.
     As my mother grew older, she couldn't keep up with the cleaning. I visited once and was astonished to find dust on the furniture. It was only then that I realized a clean house wasn't the most important thing; relationships and spending time with people you care about was number one.
     So I'm up at 4:30 this morning, changing sheets for company coming, doing a load of towels, finishing the cleaning jobs I've been working on. I might not get them all done with the other responsibilities I have, but I'll give it a shot.
     I won't sweat what doesn't get done though, because I will be spending time with my beautiful daughter and her husband, and my amazing grandsons, Ryan, Niko, and Chase. They are stopping here on their way out of the country, and it will be awhile before I see them in person again. Gotta make these moments count!
      It reminds me of the story found in Luke where Jesus and the disciples stop at their friends' home in Bethany, outside of Jerusalem. Martha, Lazarus, and Mary have hosted Jesus and his friends many times. Culture dictated certain amenities for guests, and Martha got busy providing. As she worked in the kitchen, preparing a meal for approximately 20 people, she did her best.
     As she cleaned and prepared the food, no doubt, she looked forward to listening to the stories Jesus would tell. But she was stuck and beginning to feel left out and used. Her sister, Mary, ignored all the work that needed to be done as a hostess...she didn't want to miss one word Jesus spoke, so she sat at his feet and listened intently.
     My grandsons are 11, 8, and 4. I've always lived far from them, but kept up through SKYPE and visits. However, I've missed a lot. I know them, but I don't. So, cobwebs and dust might invade, but I won't miss the best parts: learning more and more about these boys, who they are becoming, and how they want to impact their world.