Plowing Cows "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." (Matthew 11:28-30)

My mother was a schizophrenic and she suffered from that mental condition for 25 years. It was a torturous illness and a terrifying experience for all of my family. I remember that most kids in our subdivision went off joyfully to school, knowing that they were coming back to their loving parents at night. In our house, it was different. The person who sent my siblings and me to school in the morning sometimes wasn't the same person when we all got back home. It was a heavy burden to bear and one that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

So how did we cope with all of this? We didn't. We just suppressed it deep inside our souls or carried it invisibly across our backs, weeping within ourselves or whimpering under our blankets at night.

Then one day, the old minister at our school, who was also called John Stewart, read those verses from Matthew and spoke about all our burdens being shared with Jesus. He also talked about Christian in "Pilgrim's Progress" and how that tormented character got rid of his gigantic burden at the foot of Christ's Cross. It was a beautiful message and one that still brings tears to my eyes.

I knew then, as I still know today, that Jesus is my burden-bearer and when I spiritually handed over my mum, her illness, my family and my fears to Him, I discovered that He carried my burden by carrying me.

I don't know what you're going through today, but this I do know: Jesus can carry you and all your burdens. It's a wonderful feeling because He's a wonderful Lord.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes I find it hard to get through those heavy days when duties and responsibilities, illnesses and crises, troubles and problems hit me all at once. When I am weak, be my strength. When I am weary, be my rest. When I am burdened, carry me. In Your Holy Name. Amen.

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