Come alongside

 

They put on old clothes, donned gloves and headed into the barn to load the trailer with its fourth load for the dump. They dragged heavy window frames, lighter louvred doors and kitchen cupboard doors into the light, brushed them down and took pictures so we could put them up on some platform and find them a new home. They strimmed and cut grass, dug out overgrown plants and weeds, swept the drive and more … all the while smiling and responding to the requests and demands of three active children.

They came alongside us and picked up some of the jobs we were struggling to keep up with.

Love in action. We are both so grateful, and so encouraged. Thank you, Jamie and Chrisie.

Jesus invites us to be harnessed into the same yoke as he is, so that he can bear the burden of the pull. It’s not always easy to accept offers of help. We like to be independent: my parents used to tell me that as a young child I often refused offers of help with an impatient, ‘I can do it!’

Sometimes we can’t do it on our own. Usually we can’t, though we struggle on stubbornly.

Jesus welcomes us: Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will refresh you.

Who isn’t weary these days? Who isn’t heavy-laden – both personally and in a world-weary way?

Lord, I come to you today, and offer you my ‘to-do’ list. Please scratch off those things which aren’t important, and help me to buckle in beside you to accomplish the rest. I am so grateful to have such a divine helper. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, my helper and my friend, my saviour and my Lord.