“May I help you?”
“No thanks, I got it!”
These words seem to haunt me
tonight as they run over and over again in my mind like a broken record. Four
simple words and yet the weight they carry is so much more…
May I help you seems like such a
simple request. You see, I go to Publix too often to count. They ALWAYS, and I
mean ALWAYS say, May I help you? They offer to take my grocciers to the car if
I have 3 bags or 30, they still WANT to
help! My problem seems to be too many to count.
Rushed...
Children
Arguing…
Pride…
I rarely say yes. I’m in a hurry or
my kids are fighting. I always feel like a burden or that I can easily do it
myself, so why should I let them help me?
Tonight my youngest son got upset
with me when I tried to help him with his hair. “I’m not a baby mom, I CAN DO
IT!” Ugh, those words stung like a bee. I could feel my children growing up way
too fast and the need for mama fading even faster. As I walked away with tears
in my eyes, I could feel that extra tug on my heart. It was about that time my
boy came running in and jumped on the bed. “You forgot to give me our good
night kisses mom.” Ahhh, there you have it. He did still want me; he was just
growing up.
As I laid down in bed, I began to
wonder how often God has prompted my heart, “Let me help, just take my hand, I’ve
got this.” I then began to wonder how often I had pushed God away.
“No thanks, I got it!”
I often feel as though the weight
of the world has fallen at my feet and yet I forget that it doesn’t have to be
my burden to carry.
Simon was forced to carry the cross
for Jesus. He truly carried the weight of the world on the cross.
I can only imagine how Simon must
have felt when the Guards grabbed him and forced him to take the cross. What
must have gone through his mind. Fear? Confusion? Anger?
Then, to look into the eyes of the
Messiah. He was beaten, brutally beaten and exhausted beyond means. Was this
really him? He stayed humbled, focused and ignored the crowds.
Simon watched and followed the
Messiah as the crowd mocked, yelled and ridiculed Him. I can only imagine what
Simon was thinking as he swallowed his pride, took up his cross and began to follow His Savior.
I can imagine that Simon had no
clue the impact of that moment in time, but he knew his life would be changed
forever.
The weight of the world had truly fallen
at Simon’s feet and yet he was following the one who can truly take every
burden straight to the cross. It was never his burden to carry, he was simply
called to be obedient.
Then Jesus said to his disciples,
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their
cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24
That moment at the cross might have
changed Simon’s life, but it forever changed mine.
