Yesterday we bid a fond farewell to a dear friend of many, George L. Page.
Nelson shared a remembrance of George during the service; had I shared something, mine would have been about the same event . . . it impacted us both that much!
Early in our ministry, Nelson and I were called to the home of a family whose 10 yr. old son had just passed away from cancer. When we arrived we were greeted by Dad and Sister, and off in another room was the Mother . . . and laying in her arms was the still warm body of her son. Without thinking, I fell to my knees, gathered her in my arms, and just held on.
There was she was, sitting and rocking back and forth, crying and talking; and there I was, listening, crying . . . and praying. There was really nothing more that could be done, for her son was gone. But for a few moments at least, I could try to help a young mother carry the burden of her heartache.
At one point her arms were weary from the weight of her son’s body, but she was unwilling to let go of him. Finally, not knowing what else to do, I climbed up on the sofa, pulled her onto my lap and held her in my arms. There we sat . . . me holding the mother, as she held her son.
After a time, we heard that the funeral home had arrived . . . and in walked George Page. From where I sat on the sofa he looked a giant of a man, and yet I saw him walk over and speak kind and caring words . . . and I saw him tenderly and ever so gently bend towards a grief-stricken mother who was finding it hard to let go. Finally George said . . . “It’s time.” As if he were caring for one of his very own, he lovingly held that small body in his arms . . . then quietly took him away.
Earlier this week as I was remembering George . . . and in particular this story . . . I began to see how this is a life picture of Father . . . and us.
Often times, things of this life become too much for us; they become burdens that weigh us down. And even though we know we should rid ourselves of the burden . . . we choose to hold on to it.
Not for a moment am I trying to say that this boy was a burden to his father or mother. But the fact is, he was dead and sooner or later she would have to let him go . . . she was going to be physically separated from him.
At that moment of grief . . . though the body was now lifeless . . . it still was a representation of the son she knew. This body had housed the life spirit that made him who he was, and therefore, it was hard to let go.
And while George understood a young mother’s grief and the time needed to say good-bye, he also knew that we humans are never really ready to say that last good-bye. Therefore, he had to take that lifeless body, so it could be laid to rest.
Father has to do the same with us. We have things we cling to . . . not because they are good for us . . . but because we do not know how to let them go.
Some have lived with anger, or guilt; a sense of failure, or bitterness; resentment, frustration, disappointment; possibly jealousy or even fear. And have lived with it for so long now, you’re not even sure how to live your life without it.
In the end . . . these things actually hold us back . . . hold us back from being what we are meant to be in Christ.
Isn’t it time for you to be freed from your burden?
Hebrews 12:1 tells us . . . “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us . . .”
The life we are called to live with Father is very different from the one we often times choose to live. Look at the words of Paul from Ephesians:
“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
To such things as these we were called. Did Christ come, suffer and die just so we could live in the burden of anger, jealousy or fear?
Just outside our front door, at the edge of the flower bed, is a small garden bench. On it is inscribed the words from Matthew 11:28: “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Just like Father did not want that young mother to go through life being weighted down by carrying the corpse of her young son, neither does He want us to go through life carrying that which is a weight to us and could ultimately lead to the death and destruction of our very soul.
I don’t know what it is that you carry in your heart today. But understand this . . . it is making you sick at heart; it is a burden . . . and it is weighing you down.
Why don’t you let Father draw near . . . remove from your heart the burden that you carry . . . and let yourself find rest. I think as you do, you will hear be able to hear those sweet words more clearly, and your heart will understand, “Come unto me . . . and I will give you rest.”
Anyways, I was just thinking . . .