4 Tips for Spring Break

What’s brewing at your house as spring break approaches? I’d love to serve you a hot cup of House Blend: Mary and Martha’s house and a blend of four tips for spring break we can learn from these gals and their favorite guests.

Our kids love spring break. Sleeping in. No schedule. Lots of TV and movies. A taste of summer’s freedom several months early. For me. It’s a double-edged sword. I love having the kids home. I love not fighting school traffic twice a day. And I love watching movies with the family.

But the change in schedule is a stressor in itself. The house begs to be cleaned. Work calls. And so do the kids. Lots of voices in my normally quiet house. Dishes double as does the grocery bill. My me time disappears.

Where is the balance, the flavorful blend of relationships and work? Let’s look to Mary and Martha’s house for tips to handle spring break.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”(Luke 10: 38-42 NIV)

Let’s brew some house blend, a mix of the best of both girls and guests.

Tip 1: Only One Thing is Needed (Mary)

Begin your planning by putting spiritual things first. Possibilities:

  • Morning quiet times, together or separately.
  • Praise music in the house or car.
  • Family devotionals or Bible reading
  • Inspiring movies: Disney’s Frozen could spark lots of spiritual conversation. What is true love? What makes a person icy inside? Why aren’t feelings a good indicator of right and wrong choices?

Tip 2: The Other Stuff (Martha)

Cut Martha some slack here. She had a house full of men and dinner to fix. What are your have to’s for the week? (Just remember, they don’t come first.)

  • Spring cleaning
  • Visit relatives
  • Vacation/Staycation
  • Not one thing

Tip 3: Do It Together (Mary, Lazarus, and guests)

Notice how Martha was by herself and everyone else was with Jesus? Use spring break time to worship together, work together, and play together. When you get to the have to’s, make them fun and reward good efforts and attitudes.

Tip 4: Be Battle Ready (Jesus)

The last thing the enemy wants is:

  • For your family to spend more time with God
  • For your family to spend more time together
  • For your family to accomplish worthwhile things
  • For your family to fellowship with friends and other family members

Fighting, complaining, and isolation are just a few tools in the enemy’s arsenal. Recognize them from Martha’s story? Start praying now.

Questions:

Was Martha’s desire to serve wrong?

Why was Mary’s choice better?

How do we balance tasks and relationships?

How do we prepare for the coming spiritual battle?

Where is the balance, the flavorful blend of relationships and work? Click To Tweet
Tip 1: Only One Thing is Needed (Mary) Begin your planning by putting spiritual things first. Click To Tweet
Tip 2: The Other Stuff (Martha) What are your have to’s for the week? (Just remember, they don't come first.) Click To Tweet
Tip 3: Do It Together (Mary, Lazarus, and guests) Use spring break time to worship together, work together, and play together. Click To Tweet

4 Tips for Spring Break Click To Tweet

4 Comments

  1. Tessa on April 16, 2014 at 12:49 am

    Great post but I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this topic?

    I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little
    bit more. Kudos!

    • Gayle Veitenheimer on April 17, 2014 at 2:11 pm

      Hey Tessa. Could you be more specific? Did you have a specific question or was there a particular part of the post you wanted to explore more? Thanks.

    • Leatrice on November 22, 2014 at 9:09 pm

      At last, somnoee who comes to the heart of it all

  2. Chet on September 29, 2014 at 12:55 am

    Paragraph writing is also a fun, if you know after that you can write or else it
    is complicated to write.

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