—by Lois Lang

I have a tendency to be extremely frugal. Okay, I’ll admit it—I’m cheap. I want to get the most for my money, so I shop carefully. For instance, I buy dog food in the 50# bag, because the price is usually much better than buying smaller bags. This has not been a problem until lately. For some reason, those 50# bags seem a whole lot heavier than they used to be. It’s not a problem at the store—there’s always a helpful person who carries the bag out and puts it in my car for me. But when I get home, it’s just me and a large awkward heavy bag. I have to get it down the hill to the house, and then to the basement. Angie, the beloved dog for whom I go through all this, does her bouncy enthusiastic best to cheer me on as I carry/drag/roll the bag to its spot. I know she’d carry it for me if she could (although she’d probably have it half eaten before she got it to the basement).

Lugging around all this stuff that seems to get heavier and heavier as time passes made me think of Jesus. He said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and 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.” I don’t know about you, but this old lady likes the idea of a lighter burden.

So whether your burden is dog food or despair, He is with you to carry the burdens you cast on Him (because He cares for you—1 Peter 5:7).

Prayer: Lord, You are so good to me. You let me cast all my cares and burdens on You, and in exchange You give me love and a lighter burden. How do I thank You for such a wonderful gift? I am in awe of, and so grateful for, Your amazing love. Amen.