BURDENS

Can you relate to this story on some level?

A week ago, my eldest son asked me to accompany him clothes shopping at a big mall (for local readers aka Destiny USA).  It was a major shopping trip so he could buy appropriate business attire for the launching of his upcoming professional career in the “real” world!

When shopping at a big mall, I like to park in a convenient place so that if we accumulate many packages, I can drop them off to the car. It seems easier than continually carrying them around and putting them down in a store to check out more items on the racks.

I will let you in on one of my other little shopping secrets. I carry a sling bag on my back where I put my wallet, coupons, a book to read, and  a water bottle.  Carrying the sling bag on my back allows my hands to be free to browse the merchandise easier. Of course, I always get my hopes up to really be able to read a few pages of the book and it is kind of like Murphy’s law..if I remember the book, I don’t get a chance to read it. And, yes, that is exactly what happened this time!

 

     Photo courtesy of   Angelbattle bros under Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 2.0)  

 

The first store we went to, right next to where we parked, we actually spent the longest amount of time at, so naturally we put our bag of items in the car right away.  My son did ask me if we should move the car, but being such a huge mall (over 250 stores, shops, and dining places) and not being too familiar with the layout, I figured it would be too hard to know where to park.

We continued shopping and gradually the packages accumulated one after another.  Guess what? We never ended up going back to the car because it seemed like it wasn’t worth walking all the way back to where we started especially because of the many sections of the mall.

We probably ended up with about eight bags of items, which you wouldn’t think would be too heavy, but let me just say they sure added up in weight and size!  The biggest, heaviest one did contain two shoe boxes of heavy dress shoes.

Going to a new store meant putting all the bags down in order to look at items in the new store.  Factor in a quick dinner meal so we were also carrying a drink in a hand too!  It got to be pretty challenging and exhausting.

By the end of the shopping trip, I was carrying the packages as weights….to help change the position of my hands and arms. I felt a little like Atlas though you probably wouldn’t really think I looked like him!  😃

 

Photo courtesy of Stephanie McKinnon under Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 2.0)

 

This is what it made me think of though….

What if the packages represented burdens that we carry around?

Isn’t it so easy to pick up one burden..something that starts to weigh us down and wears on our mind?  Maybe even a lie about something that we start to believe?

Once we pick up one burden, another one so quickly comes along and we carry that burden. The cycle so easily continues until we are so weighted down.  And, don’t forget about that burden that you were already carrying on your shoulders! (aka sling bag!)  🙂

Maybe someone just made a negative comment about something you did. You know it’s not really true, but in your humanity, it starts to weigh you down.

A co-worker then comes along and asks you why your deadline isn’t met yet.  There is another burden to add to your day.

You hear about a relative who just found out they have cancer.  That sure is a heavy burden that gets added to you.

Photo courtesy of Adrian V. Floyd under Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 2.0) 

 

At first, you try to carry all those burdens alone, but you find it is a heavy load.

Just like when at the mall, when my son and I shared the carrying of the packages, the load was made a little easier.

Sometimes, it helps to share that burden with another.  Maybe that person will say something that helps us see the error of our way in picking up the burden in the first place or maybe just knowing they are praying for us helps us get through the day.

What else can we do differently?

How about trying to lay down the burden as soon as we try to start picking it up?  Maybe there really is no need to pick it up especially if it is something that really is not that important.

How about following Jesus’ example after He was in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights being tempted by Satan? He fought all of Satan’s attacks with Scripture….the truth that will help us carry the burdens and find rest for ourselves.

Talk to God, lay your burden down at the cross, and see Him carry the burdens with you. He is right there beside you helping you!

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.  –Psalm 55:22  (NIV)

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.  –1 Peter 5:7  (NIV)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  –Philippians 4:6-7  (NIV)