One for all the Marthas out there

Sometimes I catch myself thinking: this is just not fair. Why is everybody giving Martha a hard time? So that you know what I am talking about: remember the story of Martha and Mary, where Martha has all the work and Mary is just sitting there. It doesn't matter how many sermons I listen to, how many books I'm reading about this story, there is always this thought in the back of my heart: "Poor Martha! I totally understand you!"
Meanwhile I learned this is because I am still reluctant and can't accept to sit still for some time (please read this with a little smile). But I don't think so. It is Ms Martha Down-to-Earth speaking. "Okay", she thinks, "after everybody finished listening to Jesus they will get up, looking around and asking, hey, where is the food? And of course Jesus can do a little miracle but will he do it on the dishes?" Believe me, a lot of these busy things Martha does, she does out of experience!
The problem is that Martha gets angry about things she usually loves to do. And the second problem I learned from a friend, also a Martha and with the same struggles as mine. She told me about another Martha - hey, I think we are many! - who asked Jesus: "Okay Lord, you're telling Martha, there is this one thing she's lacking. But what is this one thing?" And Jesus answered her: "Eyecontact."
Wow. It is okay to be a Martha and it is okay to do what a Martha does. As long as you keep eyecontact.
The funny thing is that this reminds me of my dog. I don't need words to give him orders. But stubborn as border collies are he sometimes just senses that I want to give him an order and he's just not in the mood to get one. So he avoids eyecontact with me in every way he can. What sometimes looks really funny. The Martha-me so often is like that - she rather makes funny things and gets angry then getting eyecontact with her Lord. If she would, He would tell her in His kind way what to do - doing her Martha-things or getting some rest or just sitting at His feet.
Mary and disciples, don't get so hard on Martha. Your world would look different without her, believe me.
Martha, don't forget the one thing: eyecontact with Jesus.