Heavy Load

There was an older lady by the name of Ms. Heffings who was known for being mean and unpopular with the kids and people in her neighborhood. It is said that she was not always this grouchy, but it seemed that after her husband’s passing, she had become less likeable and more difficult to get along with. Her only son was killed in the Vietnam War, which took a great toll on her as well. Her husband died a few years later from, what some believe, was grief and heartache. Ms. Heffings had no one or any family that ever stopped in to see her. The neighborhood tried to help her out as best possible following her husband’s unforeseen death, but Ms. Heffings’ grief slowly turned to bitterness towards everything and everybody.

All alone, Ms. Heffing had to do everything on her own. She never had a drivers license because her husband was always there to take her everywhere that she needed to go. We used to watch her walk to the supermarket a few blocks away and return carrying those heavy bags to her house. Every time she left out of the supermarket, a stranger would offer to take her bags. Being the mean, socially removed person that she had become over the years, she would always rudely respond “I don’t need your help! I can carry my own bags.” She never even looked back to see the person offering…

As years past, the bags seemed to get heavier while Ms. Heffings’ back and arms grew weaker. One day Ms. Heffings walked outside of the market and felt a shooting pain in her back and immediately sat her bags on the ground. A stranger approached her as she kneeled with her sight to the ground, placing her hand on her ailing back. The stranger kneeled at her side and asked, “Ma’am would you allow me to carry your bags? It appears to be quite burdensome to carry such a heavy load in your current condition.” Tears slowly trickled from her eyes. Her pride had finally given into her pain. She said to the stranger, “I have denied help with carrying these bags all these years, and my back now screams for relief. Though I have denied the assistance of many strangers over the years, I’ll take you up on your offer today son.” In response, the stranger slowly helped Ms. Heffings to her feet saying, “I have been at this store for years, and it was always I who offered to take your bags. I have done so for many others who have allowed me to carry their heavy loads.” From that day on, the same stranger walked Ms. Heffings home from the supermarket with her bags in tow. Unlike the Ms. Heffings we had come to know, we would see her talking and laughing with that stranger; she was no longer alone…

Brethren, life’s circumstances can sometimes bring us to our knees due to emotional distress, loneliness, and betrayal. We are not above the trials and obstacles that are placed into our paths. We sometime fall into the traps set forth by the enemy. We cannot allow these things to wear us down and break our spirit. GOD is not unaware of our burdens here on earth, and He knows that the weight of such burden can place our spiritual evolution in jeopardy. We can choose to give in to our burdens or we can hand them over to our greatest resource, whom is adequately equipped to handle the weight of our troubles.

I am honored to share with you four scriptural readings from our Holy Bible:

28 “Come to Me, all of you who work and have heavy loads. I will give you rest.29 Follow My teachings and learn from Me. I am gentle and do not have pride. You will have rest for your souls. 30 For My way of carrying a load is easy and My load is not heavy (Matthew 11:28-30).”

”Give all your cares to the Lord and He will give you strength. He will never let those who are right with Him be shaken." (Psalms 55:22).

Brethren, release your burdens today because they were never meant for us to bear. The weight we carry is weight we have chosen to carry. There is relief in Christ. When we relinquish our heavy load, we are afforded an opportunity to walk upright in our Lord and Savior. Do not carry an unnecessary burden any longer. Turn over your heavy load to Christ…

My prayer for you today:

"Heavenly Father, the world is a difficult place and it can be overwhelming. Thank you for your willingness to take on my burdens by lifting my heavy load. Without you O’ Lord, we are but mere objects defeated by all the evils that seek to consume us. Greater is he that dwells in the Lord. We welcome you into the inner depths of our being O’ Lord and ask that You rid us of all dead weight. In the name of Your Son Jesus… Amen!"

May this message bless you all….

By: C.D. McCloud