choose the good part

This week's New Testament lesson comes from Luke 10 when Jesus visits Mary and Martha. I admit I never really understood this story because it seems like Jesus scolds Martha for doing necessary chores. But Brother Griffin explained to us that Jesus only intervenes because Martha accuses Mary for not helping. He explained that the "good part" Mary chose was to not try and persuade Martha to come sit with her. The lesson of this is that we shouldn't try and mold people into something they aren't even if we perceive it as better. 

This reminded me of a time on my mission when my companion and I gave a zone training on personality types. We took a test and put up everyone's results. Not a single person had the same results. But all of us had been called on a mission. We all had certain areas, certain companions, and certain people we were teaching and that was for a reason. Like Brother Griffin said, we are all different instruments in an orchestra. If all of us were the same we wouldn't accomplish nearly as much as what we can with our different talents and strengths. That was a lesson I learned over and over again on my mission, and I continue to learn today. Sometimes when I was frustrated with myself for not being as (fill in the blank) as someone else, or when I was impatient with other people for not being as (fill in the blank) as they should be, it was important to remember we are all different. And as Brother Griffin said, different isn't always better or worse, sometimes it's just different. The important thing is we let people be themselves and contribute their own unique abilities to the Lord's work. 

This makes me think of the Apostles today. We have everything from lawyers, surgeons, businessmen, all with experience in different areas of the world. And they all work together to build up the church and serve. That is how God intended it to be. I am grateful for that reminder this week. Different is normal, embrace it!