Throw It Off

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

My Mom and I recently had a conversation about weighted blankets. To say she is not a fan would be a bit of an understatement. Though I’ve never owned one myself, I think I would like it as long as the weight was reasonable.

When I crawl into bed at night, getting warm and cozy is what makes it easier to fall asleep. A weighted blanket would be a great way to achieve this, but it doesn’t come without its disadvantages as well.

I sometimes struggle to get out of bed in the mornings, especially during the winter months. When I’m warm and cozy under the covers, it’s difficult for me to muster the motivation to throw off the covers and get out of bed. Having a weighted blanket would make that task even more difficult.

Life can be like a weighted blanket—we are constantly faced with considering the positives and negatives of the choices that lie before us. For me that usually shows up when it comes to how I’m serving others.

Galatians 6:2 tells us: Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. This verse of Scripture is one I think many of us may wrestle with. As followers of Jesus we are called to walk with others, be encouragers, and love because Jesus first loved us.

This has been a trap for me at times in the past. When I attempt to help carry the weight and burden of those I care about, I believe I am functioning in my “sweet spot” as a servant of Jesus. However, if I’m not careful, it can sometimes end up like a thick, heavy blanket that ends up actually weighing me down.

Working through lunch allows me to help another patient, but leaves me worn out and weary. I can serve as a volunteer with multiple agencies, but then I have no time for family. I can walk with a friend through their grief, while using it as an excuse to ignore my own.

I’m learning to ask myself this question: Is this choice something that will allow me to walk in the love of Jesus as a I serve others, or will the outcome be a heavy burden that keeps me stuck in a place God doesn’t intend for me?

I am not suggesting that we stop serving others, going the extra mile, and doing what we’re called to do as followers of Jesus when it comes to loving others. However, I do believe it’s a worthwhile question that I would encourage you to use today to examine your own heart.

As we learn to decipher what is ours to do, we will gradually become more equipped to receive the blessing of serving others (the warmth of the weighted blanket) while not allowing ourselves to be weighed down to the point of not walking in God’s best for use (the weight of the blanket keeping us from getting out of bed.)

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