The Box

I woke up one morning and started to think about the tough day I had had the day before.

I sensed Jesus say to me.

“Yesterday was heavy, put it down”

Then a picture came into my mind of an empty cardboard box.

Every day, we carry this imaginary box around wherever we go.

We get to choose what we keep in the box and what we do not allow in.

Kindness, compassion, and love get to stay in the box. It doesn’t stay in the box for very long as those things can be given away to others who needs some of what we carry.

An encouragement from someone enters our box and surprises us. It’s so small and feels light.

It makes us walk with a spring in our step and a smile on our face.

Encouraging words definitely get to stay in the box.

When people hurt us or are unkind, those feelings creep into our boxes, and they start to weigh us down.

Unforgiveness drops in the box, and it takes up way too much room.

This is when we need to stop and look through our box and decide what needs to get thrown out.

Friends and even strangers may start to share stuff from their boxes with you. It’s important that you listen and show them that they are heard and loved.

What you have heard from them can easily slip into your box, and we take on their load, which begins to feel heavy and can become overwhelming.

As box carriers, we need to practice daily letting others carry their own boxes.

We also need to practice letting go of our weighty stuff by opening our box and releasing it all to God.

God never means for us to be weighed down by worries, fears, hurts, etc.

 His word tells us.

“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 NIV