Q&A with Ms. Katie M. Reid, Author of Made Like Martha

I am so excited to introduce you to Katie M. Reid. She wrote the fabulous book, Made Like Martha, “an invitation for overachievers to discover what it means to rest as God’s daughters without compromising their God-given design as doers.”

When I saw this book, I knew I needed to read this (I never stop, and I am always crossing things off of my list). I also knew that the women I interview are doers and hustlers, so there would be a lot we could unpack, here. I pray you are inspired by the wisdom shared. Thank you to all of you who submitted questions, and a HUGE thank you to Ms. Reid for taking time out of her busy schedule to do this.

If you haven’t grabbed your copy of Made Like Martha, make sure to do so, today. Enjoy the following interview, dedicated to women who are doers and daughters of Christ, everywhere.

MW: I know you discuss this in the book, but for some in our audience who may not have read your book yet, tell us, what was your childhood like? Were you the oldest? Youngest? Middle? Only child?

KMR: I am the first-born of four children. Michigan has been home for most of my life. My parents were both educators. Faith, the arts, and travel were a big part of my upbringing.

MW: Why Martha? What initially drew you to this character in Scripture?

KMR: If Martha had a fan club, I would be president of it. I so relate to Martha and her ultra-responsible ways. For years, Luke 10:38-42 bothered me. If nobody works, nobody eats, right? I really wanted Jesus to tell Mary to get up and help her sister out. But upon closer examination, I realized how much Jesus loved Martha and wanted her to know that, too. He wasn’t asking her to neglect her responsibilities but to trust Him to care for her.

“He wasn’t asking her to neglect her responsibilities but to trust Him to care for her.”

MW: When did this idea for the book come to you?

KMR: In March of 2016, my friend, Jami Amerine (author of Stolen Jesus) and I were talking about Biblical Martha and how we are wired like her. For centuries, she has gotten a bad rap, so I wanted to talk about the good things about Martha and those of us who relate to her.

MW: Is there anyone else in Scripture you feel God dealt with in a similar way?

KMR: Peter comes to mind—although I think Jesus was much more firm with Peter than Martha. An important thing to remember in either instance, is that God disciplines those He loves. He dearly loved Peter and Martha, so He instructed them from that place—for their good.

“An important thing to remember in either instance, is that God disciplines those He loves.”

MW: What do you feel women wired like Martha tend to hold on to the most?

KMR: Women who are wired like Martha are often the dependable, responsible type (which is a good thing), but sometimes, worry and control, are our go-to as well.

MW: We associate Martha with a Martha Stewart type. But I see Martha in a lot of women who work in jobs traditionally held by men, who are mothers and who are trying to be polished and have it all together. Do you think there are more Marthas now than before, given that women have been given so many opportunities?

KMR: Yes, I think so. Often circumstances demand that we manage a myriad of details (whether or not we lean more toward Martha or Mary). There are more opportunities for women than ever before (which is great), but there is also more pressure put upon us (and that we put on ourselves).

MW: You mention, “Although we need sleep, we can experience spiritual rest even when we are awake, even while we are working.” What does spiritual rest mean to you?

How did you learn to rest?

KMR: Spiritual rest is founded in who Christ is and who we are in light of Him. I believe we learn to rest within, when we are convinced of our place in God’s heart—that our position is secure, not because of what we do but because of what He has done for us, on the cross.

“[O]ur position is secure, not because of what we do but because of what He has done for us, on the cross.”

MW: What is your mechanism for dealing with stress? If you could be specific. We want this to be as practical as possible.

KMR: De-stressing is possible with three simple yet powerful words: yes, no, and help.

Let’s say yes to God’s assignments (to obey Him but not add extra things that He never asked us to do).

Let’s say no to guilt and manipulation. Many times, I’ve said yes to something because I wanted to look good or please others or I felt guilty for saying no (even when I didn’t have the bandwidth to say yes).

Lastly, delegation can be hard for those of us that are made like Martha, because we often want things done the “right” way; our way. But delegation is not weak, it is wise. We cannot do all the things.

“De-stressing is possible with three simple yet powerful words: yes, no, and help.”

MW: This is something we ask everyone; what is your morning routine?

KMR: Honestly, I need to work on this area of my life. My ideal is to go to bed at a decent hour so that I can get up at least an hour before the first child (we have five) wakes up. I find when I have some alone time before the busyness starts, I feel more prepared for the day instead of feeling like I’m already behind before I even get out of bed.

MW: Do you think part of our adrenal fatigue is our inability to trust and our over worrying? Is relationship the answer to this?

KMR: I’m no doctor, but there might be a connection. I think we often forget that we are human, not machines, and that rest is not a punishment but a gift. To me, rest is a lot about trust—trusting that God’s got this managing the world thing down, better than I do.

MW: “Sometimes possessing what is ours comes with a fight.” What would you say that means to the average young woman today?

KMR: It’s one thing to know something is true, it’s another thing to live it out. I can say, “I’m a daughter of the King” but a greater level of freedom comes when I start living out that truth. Sometimes, just believing what God says is hard work, because our minds are prone to forget, doubt, or think we know best.

MW: What planner do you use?

KMR: I’m a paper planner girl (much to my husband’s dismay). I purchased my last one at Aldi. It’s Pembrook brand, 8×10 size with fun fonts and inspirational sayings throughout it.

MW: What is balance in the eyes of God?

KMR: I prefer the word stewardship to balance. I think God wants us to be faithful stewards with what, and more importantly, who, He has entrusted to us. As we steward the next moment well, and then the next one after that, it adds up to a lifetime of faithfulness. We won’t always get it right, but with God’s help, He can show us where our attention should be focused within each given moment.

“As we steward the next moment well, and then the next one after that, it adds up to a lifetime of faithfulness.”

MW: For young women who want to be published authors, what is your advice based on your journey?

KMR: Three things comes to mind:

1. Get a few prayer partners to cover your ministry in prayer (this is serious business),

2. Don’t compare, be you! Tell your unique message, authentically (as Bob Goff once said, “The world needs your words”).

3. I highly recommend joining hope*writers—an encouraging community of writers of all stages, with weekly teaching from experts, a safe place to ask questions, and on-going inspiration to take the next step toward your writing goals. It’s the only group I pay to be a member of—they are committed to helping you, “write meaningfully words without sacrificing your meaningful life.” You can learn more about hope*writers here.

MW: Did it come naturally to include lists throughout the book? I loved this, by the way.

KMR: To-do lists are my jam (or more specifically, checking things off my to-do list is one of my favorite things). It was totally natural to include lists within the book, and I’m so happy that the design team incorporated checkmarks throughout the book and Bible study.

MW: Your top three essentials (it can be anything; we ask everyone this question)?

KMR: Tweezers (got to keep those stray hairs at bay-ha!); The Voxer app (it’s the quickest way to stay connected with my writer friends); My paper calendar and to-do list (naturally).

MW: What is God speaking into your life, in this season?

KMR: I’m coming off a very busy book launch season and beginning another full season with school starting. I feel like God is showing me to be careful with my “yeses” and more realistic with my time.

MW: Define Christianity in one sentence:

KMR: Believing, by faith, that Jesus lived a sinless life, died on the cross for your sins, rose again, is coming back again—and living differently because of this truth and His love.

Katie M. Reid encourages others to find grace in the unraveling of life at katiemreid.com. She is a devoted wife, mom to five loud children, and a fan of cut-to-the-chase conversations over iced tea. She is also a speaker and author of Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done (which includes a bonus 5-week bible study). Subscribe to Katie’s blog for weekly encouragement to help you breathe deeply and walk freely.

You can also connect with Katie, here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_m_reid/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatieMReidWriter/

Until next time, read Made Like Martha, and keep witnessing!

XOXO