Christian Message Boards: Carry each other's burdens

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Posted by barrykind (Member # 35) on :

A shiver ran through me I wasn't dressed warmly enough for the damp,
night air I sat huddled on the little wooden bench down by the lake. It
was an especially dark night, with no moon to reflect upon the still
water. Only a few stars flickered between clouds. Shivering again, I
tucked my legs up under me. I wasn't sure if the chill was from the
cold
air or from the despair in my heart.

My problem seemed so much bigger than I was, Our dearly loved teenage
son had run away from home. My cheeks were streaked with tears. I had
no
concept of how long I had been sitting there, crying out to the Lord.
"Please reveal yourself to me. I need to feel you near. I need evidence
of your presence."

The pine trees rustled gently overhead, moved by an unseen breeze. How
I
longed for a visible sign, a rustling of his presence, a soft breeze of
the Holy Spirit. "Please Lord, just a special little light up in the
dark pines then I will know that you are here and that you care."
Darkness prevailed. The lake lapped quietly against a piece of rock.

I felt someone approach, lovingly, my other son placed a jacket around
my shoulders and then quietly slipped away. Soon, one by one, the house
lights went out, and the darkness intensified. I was surrounded by
quiet
dark and I felt so alone. Finally, cold and discouraged. I uncurled
myself from the bench and giving a last longing look over my shoulders
up into the pines I climbed the hill and crawled into bed.

Morning arrived all too soon. I was emotionally exhausted. I stumbled
into the kitchen going through the motions of fixing breakfast and
getting the children off to school. With a heavy heart I began to
straighten the house once again asking the Lord to reveal himself.

I was beginning to make the bed, when the phone rang, I heard the
familiar voice of a friend say, " I just wanted you to know I Love you
and am praying for you." A few minutes later, the phone rang again, " I
just wanted to let you know that you have been on my mind lately, Are
you alright?" The caller assured me of her love and prayers. All during
the day, in phone call after phone call, loving friends offered love,
concern and support. That evening, two friends called to say they were
coming over to pray with us.

Suddenly I realized the Lord had revealed Himself to me . . . again and
again . . . all day long . . . lovingly and tenderly. I was looking for
a light in my darkness and He sent more than one. I asked Him to reveal
Himself and His love to me in a special way. And He did. Not through
night whispers, mysterious rustlings, or glimmers in the treetops, but
in a way that I could feel. Through His people. Humbly I bowed my head,
thank you Lord.

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law
of
Christ" (Galatians 6:2).

Author Unknown

Posted by helpforhomeschoolers (Member # 15) on :

Amen Barry! This is what it is all about isn't it.

My mom, God bless her was an uneducated woman, in the south where I grew up, folks would have called her a hillbilly. She and her sister were orphaned at a young age and she never got an education. When I was young, I snubbed my nose at her. I didn't think she knew much of anything and the more educated I became, the more that feeling grew in me.

But now past 40 I realize that she had a wisdom much greater than I could have ever received in college. She understood life, and she expressed her understanding in simple little cliches' that used to annoy me so much, and now I find myself repeating them often. You know the saying about not being able to see the forest for the trees? Well my mom used to tell me I was opposite of that.... I couldn't see the trees for the forest. She was right... I always wanted to see the grand picture; the details were there, yes.

But I didn't want to be bothered with the rungs in a ladder; I wanted to embrace the ladder. So what if you overlooked a step or two.

Seeing God is a little like that. We hunger for him and want to embrace the totality of his majesty, and often we miss his presence in the day to day details.

This story was a good reminder of that, and of mom. Thanks. Maybe I need to give her a call today!

God Bless, You and yours!

Posted by barrykind (Member # 35) on :

Amen Linda..
The Love of God manefested in our hearts, where we consider others better than ourselves..

[dance]

i remember those old sayings too~

She was purty as a speckled pup in a pea patch.

You can get more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Maybe ill start a thread on old sayings in the laugh section

God Bless