I’m a people person. I am also an introvert. So I am a one-on-one or small group person. I connect best with genuine deep conversations. I am also empathetic. The result being that I often carry in my mind burdens and problems that aren’t mine to carry.
Today when I was journaling I asked myself the question, ‘What is mine to carry?’ It was a pretty short list, involving my family, my house, my writing and a few other core things. The next list, ‘What is not mine to carry?’ unsurprisingly is a lot longer. And as I wrote each of them down, I breathed out and mentally let them go, ‘This is not mine to carry.’
The process of writing these things down physically released the tension in my shoulders and neck. Bringing to my mind the phrase ‘the weight of the world was on her shoulders.’
Followed by the next logical question ‘who put it there?’
It is often me taking on other people’s burdens. Burdens that are not mine to carry.
It is true that there are times when we are called to help someone carry a burden. We are not made to walk through the sorrows of the world alone with no support.
But I have a tendency to think of myself ‘more highly than I ought.’ Wanting to be Miss fix-it, Miss helpful for too many.
What’s the solution? Retreat and don’t help anyone? I don’t think so?
But helping everyone isn’t working for me either. An unfortunate result is that my core people, the people who need me most, miss out.
It is only through a daily conversation with God that I get a real sense of what I need to focus on. For as He says: ‘Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.’
‘Nothing heavy or ill-fitting’ is His promise. When I carry just what is mine to carry there is a physical and mental lightness that comes into my life.
Join me for the journey,
Jodie
Thanks, Jodie!
This is so beautiful. I am a lot like you. I am that introvert, the lover of deep thinking, deep conversations, the empathetic one. I need to throw off those extra weights too. I need to seek the Lord for my focus moment by moment each day. Thank you for this great reminder! May your soul be refreshed as you seek Him!