Burden cleaner

 

Sometimes a lil black dirt is good to uncover. It reminds me that there still is richness for pure natural beauty to grow...you know the good ol' country farm dirt, earth worm filled, black moist soil with a smell that only your nose can explain.
I had the privilege to do some good farm house yard work. The kids were running around sort of helping me and suddenly I found myself alone. Just me with purple work gloves keeping my hands from dirt beneath my nails, the warm hum of bees pollinating the trees way high up, and a big rock garden of burdens that needed a good spring cleanup. My parents have created a spiritual journey throughout their farm with different stops with a word or two that is elaborated upon as people are taken through on a one of a kind prayer walk. So there I was in the burden stop thinking of the irony of cleaning up the waste and debris amongst the burdens trying to uncover the black dirt and rock burdens.
It was quite therapeutic in a few ways. One, I was finally getting a literal fresh breath of air in the spring breeze with a much needed break from my calling and 24/7 role as mom. Two, God met me there. Sometimes I try to just clean up my burdens on my own and make them look comfortable and almost right. My pride keeps me from letting go. And as I start to justify and decorate the burden, seems life just gets messier and impossible.
God is the #1 mr. clean. He is the restorer and rebuilder. He wants to take my burdens but he has to use the rake or his hands or his words and uncover the burden and dark rich soil before he can take it And make it something beautiful.
The job was sweat making with dirt filled gloves, and one lady bug (freaked as if it was a wood tick) crawling up the inside of my pant leg kind of job. But the end result was immediately noticeable and so refreshing. Clean burdens are easier to see, pick, and remove. Burdens lead me to Jesus. Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30 "come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
I don't know about you but I am bringing my burdens to Jesus. He will clean them up with utmost gentleness and humility. And when the rocks are cleaned up and replaced with lighter burdens, I will look and see the beauty of The Lord in this joy filled but trouble filled life and rest (after the ladybug is out of my pants of course.) so maybe it's time to get cleaned up and expose that life giving dirt.