At the end of my day volunteering in Kidsplace, I went to clean up the nursery. Putting away the
snacks, I failed to notice that the lid had not been placed properly on the container. Predictably, the lid came off, and Cheerios spilled all over the carpet. Sigh.
On my hands and knees, I began gathering the cereal. A sizable amount had spilled. As I attempted to gather each little piece in my hand, a number would fall out. I would pick them up, only to have them fall again. This scenario repeated itself at least a few times before I heard the words “You hold too
much, and then wonder why things slip through the cracks”.
Immediately after, I conceded the need for the dustpan. But as I cleaned, I meditated on the words,
searching for the reason behind the lesson. Finally, I came to the conclusion, that yes, I did hold too
much. I said yes to too many things. I carried too many things that weren’t mine to carry, but I’d
allowed myself to pick them up. And then, things slipped through my fingers.
I’m sure I’m not alone in this. They all seem like such little things.
A little “yes” here and there throughout your day, until before you realize it, you’ve missed dinner with
your family because you said yes to your boss asking you to stay late to work on that project.
Yes to that family member that continuously crosses your boundaries and burdens you unnecessarily,
and you become so stressed that you unintentionally snap at your children.
Yes to another episode of that show even though it’s one in the morning and you have to be awake in
five hours, and you find yourself exhausted the next day.
Yes to scrolling on Facebook mindlessly, until you realize you’ve cut into time you promised yourself
to spend in the Word.
And then when the little things add up, they push other seemingly little things through the cracks. Your relationships, your health, your willpower.
January is a good time to take inventory of what we’re holding in our hands. Ask yourself, honestly, if
there are things you are holding on to that are taking up space of the more important things in your life.
Is there something valuable that has already fallen through the cracks after being crowded out? Pick it
up, and put down the unnecessary yeses and burdens. You can’t hold everything. You can’t carry
everything. That isn’t what your Father has asked you to do. Prayerfully, ask Him to show you the best
way to prioritize your life. What He wants you to hold. And don’t worry. He’ll hold everything else.
Matthew 11:28-30 Common English Bible (CEB)
28 “Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29
Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves.30
My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.”
Brianna Richardson
Absolutely love this! Thank you for sharing, Brianna!
❤️❤️