Made Like Martha

August 13, 2018
Reid, contributing writer for Christian lifestyle blogs iBelieve and LightWorkers, cuts through the common idea that Jesus preferred Mary over Martha in this book of uplifting encouragements for Christian women. “Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things,” Jesus says in Luke 10, after Mary sits at his feet while Martha continues cooking. “Only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good, which part shall not be taken away from her.” Reid digs into this passage, asserting that “since I spend most of my days bustling instead of sitting at Jesus’s feet, I feel as if something is inherently wrong with me.” She breaks the book into three thematic sections: striving, sitting, and standing. To begin, she addresses the attitude of constant striving, with her most helpful section exploring how Martha-like women commonly worry about “what if” scenarios. Reid explains how shifting one’s thinking to “even if” allows one to be more prepared for tribulations. In the next section, she explores ways of being grateful and “enjoying your spiritual inheritance,” and in the final section, she brings her thoughts together to propose ways of “stewarding well without overdoing it” and strategies for rest. Reid’s cheerful book will appeal to Christian women looking for more peace of mind.