The first time I remember waking up

in the night was in the winter time

when I was about six.  Papa had sent

the tobacco crop to Louisville

to be sold, and we sat by the fire

that night, talking and wondering

what it would bring.  It was a bad time.

A year of a man's work might be worth

nothing.  And Papa got up at two o'clock.

And I woke up and heard him leaving.

He saddled his horse and rode over

to the railroad, four miles, and took

the train to Louisville, and came back

in the dark that night, without a dime.

-poem by Wendell Berry

There are real, heavy burdens people are carrying around today.  From meeting bills, the health and survival of ill children, and renewed visas for missionary families living in foreign countries, to our children's night terrors and playground bullies.  This stuff is real.  Where to go and what to do with these real, heavy burdens?  

We want to demonstrate for our children faith, trust, and hope.  They need to see us in the fire, resting, with palms turned up, breathing deeply.  Stepping out of the boat in the midst of the storm, trusting and walking toward Him.  Our dinner table prayers must go from simple, surface rote to deep and honest conversations with a God who cares.  As we grow in faith through the pain and the fear, they will learn faith as it really is.  Coming to God with all our heavy burdens, that we all might experience God's glorious exchange as He takes from us our load and gives us His easy yoke.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

(Matthew 11:28-30)

What does this mean, practically?  What does it look like in the midst of suffering and uncertainty?  How can we give him our burdens when He doesn't usually choose to take away the bankruptcy, illness, or hard reality we are suffering under?

I think that the lesson I'm learning is that in the exchange, it's not the circumstance He is trading with us -- it's the ease with which we are able to shoulder it when we are yoked with HIm.  He takes the weariness and infuses our circumstances with renewed hope that brings light to the dark.  A lift and support under the weight as we are tethered to the mightiest, most loving God.

I remember my mother sitting by my step-father's bedside as he suffered and ultimately died from Leukemia.  What she experienced during the time she carried that real, heavy load, was that God cares.  Selah.  He cares.  And she was astounded that with all the suffering throughout the world, even to it's very ends, he was caring for all His children in all creation.  And the joy she experienced because of such wondrous knowledge was what lifted her shoulders beneath the burden, her countenance behind her tears, and her heart amidst such heartbreak.

I was watching my mother as she took her heavy laden heart to Him and received HIs nearness, His good, His comfort, and the knowledge of His extravagant care.  

I love the poem above.  It paints such a picture that the children are watching, that they know our struggles and are learning from us as we sit by the fire, talking and wondering (and praying) together.

May God Bless you today, whatever real, heavy loads you may be shouldnering.  Bring it to Him.  O, bring it to Him.