Availability
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” – Romans 12:10
Our character development series continues with a Martha & Mary craft that teaches availability. We have done availability activities that are associated with being available for others, but it is important to remember that we first need to be available for Christ. I wanted to create popsicle stick people to represent Martha, Mary & Jesus. With the characters in place, we also needed to create a scene, so we used a shoe box to create a setting. After creating all of the elements, we were able to act out the story of Martha and Mary. By the way, I have done another activity on Martha and Mary before. I would love for you to click back here to see it.
We set out to make our characters. It was first important to glue the google eyes onto the popsicle sticks. These weren’t the little sticks. They were more like tongue depressors and can be purchased at most craft stores.
Next, the girls drew on their faces with marker.
It was time to add hair. We just used some string and yarn and glued it in place. You can always add more hair than we used.
I brought down a bunch of ribbon scraps for them to choose for the dresses for Martha and Mary. Jesus’ cloak was made of white felt. After they chose the ribbon, we worked to cut it to size and glue it in place on the stick.
Abby was the one who really went to work on the scene in the shoe box. We traced around the box and added brown paper to the back wall. Then, Abby cut out some chairs, a table and a door to set up the room.
She glued all of her pieces inside the box.
Here you have Martha, Jesus and Mary. I added a sticker with a teapot to Martha to remember that she kept herself busy, busy, busy while Jesus was visiting.
Finally, came the time to tell the story. I actually told it first, working all of the three characters. I had my Bible open and read the passage straight from the Bible. It’s a short story and easy to understand. I did ask clarifying question and added emphasis on some passages. Here’s the story found in Luke 10:38:42:
At the Home of Martha and Mary
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 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!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
After I read the story, I made sure to emphasize that Martha was too busy working to be available to Jesus. Jesus emphasized that the most important thing is to spend time in His presence. It happens now in prayer, reading the Bible and being in fellowship with other believers. After this short discussion, I let the kids re-inact the story with their popsicle puppets. Re-telling of stories is a great way for kids to really learn.
In this story Mary was behaving as if she were a man. She had crossed an invisible but very important boundary. In those days Mary’s behaviour would have been considered absolutely scandalous, that’s why Martha is upset. Mary quietly took her place as a would-be teacher and preacher of the kingdom of God. That was a male role. Jesus affirms her right to do this in front of all the disciples. The Gospel of Luke is full of stories showing Jesus trampling down the barriers put up by the religious traditions. That’s why the religious leaders hated him. This story is more about the boundary-breaking call of Jesus than making ourselves available.
Thanks for this insight. Women were really elevated in many ways during Jesus’ time. I’m glad we are no longer Jew/Greek, male/female, etc., but are all one as believers and heirs.