It's amazing how when you become a mother you just have a way to fix almost anything. It doesn't matter if inside our heads we are freaking out wondering how will we fix this, because what we show is we get the job done. Mothers take care of things. Wouldn't you agree?
I guess once you have a baby you learn quickly how to be prepared. It seems that may be one less worry when you are carrying your second, third or forth child. It may seem that because we have done it all before we are more prepared for the next.
But with all new unpredictable things in life worry is hanging on the backside for dear life.
Dang right?
It seems that once worry grabs on tightly enough we carry a heavy load around.
And you can only carry a heavy load for so long before it gets harder and harder to take steps towards anything.
Take for example the diaper bag. First time moms probably pack it with EVERYTHING you can think of for any situation and then still stress thinking they might have forgotten something.
But haven't you been known to pack unnecessary things in that bag?
The chances are you did this today. Not with material things of course, but with burdens from the day before, the day ahead and the hours upon you.
Us moms we carry the suitcase of GUILT!
Here's what Max Lucado says about our suitcase of guilt.
The sack of discontent. You drape a duffel bag of weariness on one shoulder and a hanging bag of worry on the other. No wonder you're so tired at the end of the day. Toting those kinds of bags is exhausting.
What you were saying to me, God is saying to you, " Set that stuff down! You're carrying burdens you don't need to bear."
"Come to me," he invites, " all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28
If we let him God will lighten our loads.
But how do we let him?
May I invite an old friend to show us? The first few verses of 23rd Psalms.
The Lord is my Shepard;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
e leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Have you been packing your purse with some burdens of your own? Do you think God might use Davids psalm to lighten your load? Traveling light means trusting God with the burdens you were never intended to bear.
Why don't you try traveling light? Try it for the sake of those you love. Have you ever considered the impact that excess baggage has on relationships?
We've made this point at our church by virtue of a drama. A wedding is reenacted in which we hear the thoughts of the bride and groom. The groom enters, laden with luggage. A bag dangles from every appendage. And each bag is labeled: guilt, anger, arrogance, insecurities. This fellow is loaded. As he stands on the altar the audience hears him thinking, Finally a woman who will help me carry all my burdens. Shes so strong, so stable, so.......
As his thoughts continue, hers begin. She enters, wearing a wedding gown but, like her fiance, covered with luggage. Pulling a hanging bag, shouldering a carry on, hauling a makeup kit, a paper sack-everything you could imagine and everything labeled. She has her own bags: prejudice, loneliness, disappointments. And her expectations? Listen to what she is thinking: Just a few more minutes and Ive got me a man. No more counselors. No more group sessions. So long, discouragement and worry. I wont be seeing you anymore. He's going to fix me.
Finally, they stand at the alter, lost in a mountain of luggage. They smile their way through the ceremony, but when given the invitation to kiss each other, they can't. How do you embrace someone if your arms are full of bags?
For the sake of those you love, learn to set them down.
And for the sake of the God you serve, do the same.
He wants to use you, you know.
But how can he if you are exhausted?
God has a great race for you to run. Under his care you will go where you've never been and serve in ways you've never dreamed. But you have to drop some stuff. How can you share grace if you are full of guilt? How can you offer comfort if you are disheartened? how can you lift someone else's load if your arms are full with your own?
For the sake of those you love, travel light.
For the sake of the God you serve, travel light.
For the sake of your own joy, travel light.
There are certain weights in life you simply cannot carry. Your Lord is asking you to set them down and trust him. He is the father at the baggage claim. When a dad sees his 5year old son trying to drag the family trunk off the carousel, what does he say? The father will say to his son what God is saying to you.
"Set it down child. I'll carry that one."
"Unload all your worries on to him, since he is looking after you." 1 Peter 5:7
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