Betsy tamped down the rising anxiety as she scanned her to-do list. How would she ever pull this off? What was she thinking, agreeing to host David’s entire family for Thanksgiving? Her phone rang, and she glanced at the screen. Mom. With all she had to do, there wasn’t time to talk, but Mom always calmed her. She could clean while she chatted.

            “Hey, Mom, how’s Florida?”

            “It’s wonderful this time of year. I’m sorry we won’t see you for Thanksgiving. I know you’ll be busy tomorrow, so I wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving today.”

            “Thanks. You too.”

            “What’s wrong? You sound stressed.”

            Betsy sorted through a stack of mail, pulled out the bills, and put the rest in the recycle bin. “We’re hosting David’s family. There will be 17 people here tomorrow. I had a big project due for school yesterday, so I’ve started nothing. David had to work today, so I have to go to the grocery store, clean the house, and make all the food for 17 people, all by 1:00 tomorrow. I don’t know how I can possibly get everything done in time.”

            “Are you willing to listen to some advice?”

            “Mom, I…”

            “Are you wiser than Moses?”

            Betsy stopped. “What are you talking about?”

            “In Exodus, when Moses was leading the Israelites, he served as a judge over all their conflicts. He was, quite frankly, overwhelmed. His father-in-law gave him advice. Because Moses was wise, he took that advice.”

            “OK, I get it. What is your advice?”

            “First of all, there’s no need for the house to be spotless. People care more about the food than whether your house can pass a white glove test.”

            “David’s parent’s house is immaculate.”

            Mom tut-tutted. “They probably have a cleaning service. You don’t. Just do the major things. And don’t worry about the upstairs. No one needs to go up there. Keep them downstairs. That cuts your cleaning time in half.”

            Betsy set the bills on the desk and pulled out a duster. “OK, that helps. What else?”

            “Call up the McGraths.”

            “Your old next-door neighbors? Why?”

            “Susan told me her daughters are always looking for babysitting jobs as a way to make extra money. I bet they’d help clean the house.”

            “That’s a great idea. If they help with the cleaning, I can get started on all the shopping and baking.”

            “You don’t have to bake everything from scratch.”

            “David’s mother always does. It wouldn’t feel right buying something from the store.”

            “Honey, David’s mother is retired. You’re working full time and getting your master’s degree. You don’t have that kind of time. Hasn’t anyone offered to bring anything?”

            “Well, yes, but..”

            Mom’s sigh came through the phone. “There’s one other part of that chapter of Exodus we need to talk about. The Israelites were in a war, and Moses held up his hands. Whenever his hands were raised, the Israelites would win, but when his arms grew too weary, they began to lose. He was supported by the people around him. You need to lean on others as well.”

            Betsy sat on the sofa. “Do you think I should let other people bring things? Won’t that show I can’t handle it all by myself?”

            “There is no shame in accepting help. Reach out to the people who offered to bring something and say yes. Then tomorrow, put the turkey in the oven and enjoy your guests. Don’t try to do so much that you forget what the day is all about.”

            Tears stung Betsy’s eyes. “Mom, do you know what I’m most thankful for right now?”

            Mom’s voice came through the phone, gentle and sweet. “What, dear?”

            “You.”

Exodus 17: 10-13

So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Exodus 18:13-23

The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”

Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

God, so often we get overwhelmed by all there is to do. Please help us focus on what is most important. And when others offer to help, please encourage us to accept the help. Thank you for the people in our lives who are willing to help us. This week, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, please remind us of all the blessings in our lives and remind us to be grateful. First and foremost, we are grateful for your love and Jesus’ sacrifice for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.