Mary and Martha’s Tips on Managing One’s “Pre-Party Personality”, by M.C. Holbrook

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?” (Lk. 10:40)

A friend once described to me what she referred to as her “pre-party personality.” “Pre-party personality” was her euphemism for the brusque and irritable attitude that she would unleash upon her family, all in an effort to make things “perfect” for her guests. Many of us who have experienced the stress of getting ready to host a party can relate to my friend’s predicament, and Martha is no different.

It’s not that Martha is not happy to serve, to welcome, to entertain; it’s just that getting her home ready for Jesus to arrive would have been stressful. And as long as Martha chose to cling to the idea that everything had to be “just right,” she was going to be in a bad mood; she was going to be frustrated and anxious. Such is Martha’s disposition going into the dinner she is hosting for Jesus.

Of course, as stressed and irritable as we can get in preparing our homes for our guests, our “pre-party personality” doesn’t last forever. What normally happens to us once the party has begun? ….

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