Some WONDER-ful News about Burdens

I went to the temple this morning. I had many friends and family members on my mind. The very first thing I did was go to the prayer roll and write down a few names of those I know are facing struggles. I decided to do some Initiatory. As I sat there pondering the trials we face in life, one phrase in a long list of blessings stood out to me: “that they may bear the burdens that may be placed thereon.” I began to ponder on this phrase. I thought about those I love who are dealing with burdens now. I thought to myself, why do some people seems to have burdens that are so heavy, with no end in sight?
That is when the Spirit began to teach me.
One line from one of my children’s Patriarchal Blessings came to mind: “He knows the circumstances under which you will grow and develop.” I think this is true for all of us. Jacob 5 :22 “…Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, …I have nourished it this long time,…” The challenge for us then, is to realize that some of our burdens are put there by a loving Heavenly Father, to help us grow and develop. The next part of the challenge is to look around us at how He is nourishing us in these ’poor spots of ground’.
The second thing that came to mind was an essay I read years ago by Sister Sherri Dew. She related a personal experience regarding burdens vs. baggage.
She was in New York for a meeting. She was staying on the 44th floor of a hotel when the fire alarms went off at 3:00 a.m. She admits that in a moment of “vanity” she decided to quickly gather her things and carry everything with her down all 44 floors. (She did not want to look bad for her morning meeting.) “It was a grueling 1232 stairs straight down” carrying 40 pounds of luggage. She says, “Burdens have the potential to exalt us, but baggage just weighs us down and wears us out.” She lists some things that she feels are baggage or may become baggage. She warns us to leave them behind:
Sin that have not been repented of, natural man behaviors that we aren’t ready to give up, worry, jealousy, guilt, unforgiving hearts, anger, regret, pride, resentment, the desire to retaliate, fear, and insecurity.
Sometimes we feel so overwhelmed with all the things we “have” to do. I thought about a talk in April 2014 General Conference by Sister Linda S. Reeves. She teaches us how to create a Christ centered home. She learned this powerful lesson years before:  “It is OK if the house is a mess and the children are still in their pajamas and some responsibilities are left undone. The only things that really need to be accomplished in the home are daily scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening.” There are really only a few things that we “have” to do: Scriptures, Prayer, FHE. The other things will fall into place. There is a time and a season for all things. I am in a different season than most of you. I am able to go weekly to the temple, 10 years ago that was not an option. I was needed in the home.
We feel the pressure to grow our own wheat, harvest it, grind it, and then make our own bread.
Do genealogy.
Help at the school.
Have a spotless house.
Volunteer at the local hospital.
Clean children, who never make mistakes.
The list goes on and on.
I think December is the perfect time for us to re-evaluate our “to do list”.
Last December our family was finishing up Lisa’s mission preparation (she entered the MTC on December 18). It changed our focus from all the things we “had” to do (Christmas cards, neighbor gifts, teacher gifts, treats, baking, decorating, wrappings, buying, etc.) to what really mattered….being together as a family and thinking about the birth of our Savior. It was one of my favorite Christmas’s in a long time.
So here is the second challenge, prayerfully look at your life and see if you have baggage you are carrying around.  Let’s get rid of it. Let’s cast our burden on the Lord (Matthew 11:28-30), and ask Him to make our burdens light (Alma 33:23, Mosiah 24:14-16)