The Burden of Caring
The other day it was pouring rain outside. The whole family had just arrived home from visiting the shops. We had a four-year-old, a one-year-old and 16 different bags to bring in from the car.
My husband and I paused as we watched the rain coming down and spoke out our game plan. I’d grab the one-year-old, he’d grab the four-year-old, we’d do our best with some of the bags and the rest we’d go back for once the rain had eased.
My husband was first to the house and he started sorting things out and dropping things off in certain rooms. I, carrying the one-year-old, got to the front door and froze. I was wearing sandals that were dripping wet and all I could see was wet, slippery tiles on our floor.
Having broken my ankle on wet tiles 10 months earlier I am still fearful of doing the same again.
My husband did not break his ankle and does not have a fear of slipping. So when I asked him if he could get me a towel to wipe away the rain he probably thought I was crazy. He probably thought that with everything else he had to do in sorting out the children, getting me a towel was the last thing he wanted to do.
But he did it anyway. He didn’t roll his eyes. He didn’t sigh exasperatedly. He just took our one-year-old out of my arms and handed me the towel.
And I appreciated it so much.
While I was reflecting on my husband’s helpful assistance I realised that often I get exasperated when someone asks me to help them. I make them feel guilty that I have to go out of my way to help them. Especially when I don’t understand why they can’t do something themselves.
What a great reminder for me that helping others does often take a sacrifice but is much appreciated.
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us. Surely He should have just looked at us and thought, well if you just stopped sinning I wouldn’t have to die!
But instead He showed love and grace.
What an incredible sacrifice that was given for us! May we be willing to make smaller sacrifices regularly for others.
Lord, Your love and grace for us is truly amazing. Thank you for your sacrifice so that we may have life. Amen.
What sacrifice can you make today?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.