September 1st

It is not His cross that is heavy;
It is those that our hands have made
That hinder us on our journey,
On our aching shoulders laid;
There is strength for the load He gives us
And balm for the thorn He sends,
But none for the needless burdens,
And none for our selfish ends.


For His yoke is easy to carry
And His burden is light in weight;
He will do His share of the labor,
For He is a true yoke-mate.
Are weary and heavy-laden?
Are we anxious and full of care?
That is not the cross of His giving
But the one we make and bear.
(Author unknown)

This poem followed the September 1st entry in this old devotional book.  Each morning, my husband and I  drink a cup of coffee as we read the selection from THIS book and then another more contemporary devotional book.  Many times we are surprised how the two mesh and God reinforces a word of instruction or encouragement to us!

The poem THIS day reminds us not to load or unload ourselves, not to cut our cross to our own liking, and to keep our backs as straight as we. can and not think about what is upon them or boast of the load that we carry. 

I KNOW that  many loads I bear are those that I've loaded myself with!  Today I choose to let Jesus "load" me and release those I carry needlessly!  I hope you'll  join me in that decision.