The Gift Unwrapped

The Gift Unwrapped: Transforming Martha   For Steve, Steven, and Kristen May you know the truth of your identity in Christ’s family and live in peace with the fullness of Christ within you. I love you for eternity! For my readers Thank you for picking up this book and giving my words a chance. I pray that you find a piece of yourself within these pages and accept the dare to share it.   Introduction Martha gripped the box with both hands, drawing it in close. It was much heavier than she anticipated. The edges dug into her palms, and she groaned with every step up. She felt like she was climbing a mountain instead of a staircase. Finally reaching the top, she wobbled to the table and let it drop with a loud thud. Inside, it was overflowing with books she’d promised to donate to the local library for the upcoming benefit sale. A small devotional teetered atop the pile. As the stack shifted, the book slipped over the edge, but Martha caught it just in time. She slid her finger under the dainty pink ribbon and pulled open the book to the page it marked. She read the verse. As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary [who] sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” (Luke 10:38–42) Two thousand years apart, the same name and so many similarities. Martha wondered if she would ever break free from her internal struggles and worldly distractions to find peace in a broken world filled with its disordered desires.   Chapter 1 His birthday is almost here, and the vision I’ve held for a peaceful, radiant, and deeply meaningful celebration is slipping further from my reach. Instead of making steady progress on my to-do list, I’m overwhelmed by a flood of mounting tasks and exhausted from the unexpected waves of change, which are smashing my plans to pieces. What devastating news will come next? Death never comes at a good time, and holiday or not, sickness knows no schedule either, especially mine. Is this what He meant when He told her she was anxious about many things? Wiping tears from her eyes, Martha squinted at her endless list, desperate to find something—anything—to omit. The perfect gifts still needed to be bought and wrapped. The house was screaming to be cleaned and decorated. Guest rooms required fresh bedding and special touches. Meals needed to be planned and every last morsel baked. Martha let out a huge sigh. She wondered how she could possibly do it all in such a short time. And then there’s me, Martha thought. I’m clinging to the desire of being filled with joy and radiant with His light and love, but right now, I’m about as joyful as sidewalk chalk in a thunderstorm. I’m fragile and fading fast. Listening to the news isn’t helping. The media is firing up again to distract us from all that is heavenly and kind. Their constant flood of ugly political news threatens to suck the soul of any hope we have left for the salvation of our world. Social media wasn’t much better. Martha wondered if people’s lives were as flawless as they appeared in their posts. Family photos were retouched and filtered, and their homes resembled editorial photography spreads created by professional stagers and commissioned photographers. Martha considered all the countless things shaping her unrealistic expectations more than she wanted to admit. Her frantic busyness seemed only to magnify the lack of closeness with the one she wanted to celebrate the most. The true meaning of the season felt lost.   Chapter 2 Jill’s text read, Your package is coming soon. Open it. You can use it now, so don’t wait! Merry Christmas, Jill Well, that’s interesting. Open it now? Confusion nagged at Martha. Jill knows I like to save her gift to cherish on His birthday. I seldom have gifts to unwrap, and hers look especially beautiful displayed in our home. Even the outer wrap is somewhat embellished, contrary to the wishes of the post office. Still, Jill has never been a worldly rule follower, which is why I love our friendship. For nearly twenty years, she’s been clearing the haze and reminding me who truly reigns. *** Exhausted from dusting ceiling fans and reorganizing the pantry, Martha was ready for a break. A slight disruption on the porch lured her to the door. No package yet. Instead, the wind had carried away last season’s woven straw planter. The curled, brittle marigolds broke off with each tumble. It was a reminder she needed to add a bit of holiday cheer to the front porch, too. At this rate, her list would never end.   Chapter 3 Tiny crimson trees were delicately embossed on green and white plaid paper, made from mulberry, that dressed the rectangular package. It was adorned with fragrant sprigs of fresh pine and white holly, tied up with a delicate gold string, and a French bonbon candy. It was a complete feast for the senses! Martha drew the gift up to her nose and breathed in the crisp pine. A hint of sweetness came from the candy and mingled with the fresh woody scent. She paused, inhaling the smell and reflecting on the gift’s quiet beauty. She gently untied the delicate gold string, releasing the French bonbon. She unwrapped its thin foil. Placing it on her tongue, she closed her eyes, her face still and quiet. The thin, sweet chocolate gave way to a soft, fruity center, and suddenly, without warning, a smile she hadn’t expected snuck past all the heaviness she was carrying and stretched across her face. It was real, and she welcomed it.