Jesus entered in a village; Martha welcomed Him inside,

A house became a place of teaching while the day moved on outside.

Mary sat down at His feet and listened to His word,

Choosing stillness near the Teacher, taking in what she had heard.

Martha served with honest labor, yet the labor pulled apart,

Many duties filled her hands until they crowded out her heart.

One thing is needful,

When the many make their claim.

One thing is needful,

When the good becomes a strain.

Mary chose the better part,

And it would not be taken away.

Sometimes what the soul most needs

Is to sit and hear the word today.

Martha came to Jesus with the burden in her tone:

Did He care that she was serving while her sister sat alone?

Would He tell Mary to rise and share the work that filled the room?

But Jesus named her twice with care before He named the wound:

Martha, Martha, careful, troubled, pulled by many things,

When one thing stood as needful underneath the rush they bring.

Many things can matter,

Many tasks can still be good,

Yet the heart can lose the center

While it does what someone should.

Martha's service filled the room,

Mary stayed and heard the word.

Jesus named one thing as needful

When the many things were stirred.

One was cumbered by the serving,

One kept listening where she stayed,

And the better part she'd chosen

Would not ever be taken away.

One thing is needful,

When the many make their claim.

One thing is needful,

When the good becomes a strain.

Mary chose the better part,

And it would not be taken away.

The house stayed full of duties,

But the word became the stay.