“. . . casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” — 1 Peter 5:7 NKJV.
I was sitting close to the window in a coffee shop I frequent having my morning coffee and reviewing my sermon on my laptop computer. It was a clear cool early Sunday morning, only a few hours before morning worship at our church would begin. It’s part of my Sunday morning routine in preparing for worship. I like to sit, pray, and meditate over my sermon and sermon notes, and make any needed corrections, changes, deletions, or additions. I know that might seem strange and unusual to some. One would think a minister or pastor would try to find a more private, secluded and spiritual place to meditate and prepare to his or her sermon rather than a public space like a coffee shop. I’m different and not like everyone else. This is my routine and process for sermon preparation. I enjoy observing people, places, and things.
On this particular Sunday morning I noticed a woman, a mother, slowly carrying her son across the busy street from the coffee shop where I was sitting. She looked weary and tired. The boy she was carrying was not an infant. He looked old enough and big enough, in my opinion, to walk across the street by myself; nevertheless, for some reason she felt that she had to carry him. The woman looked as if she had been up all night caring for him or maybe his siblings. She may had been going through a problem or some other difficulty or circumstances that were beyond her control. Whatever the situation may have been one could clearly see the tension, worry, and angst in her face. It was none of my business nor my problem, I selfishly said to myself. Say a little silent prayer for her and hope that things will get better.
However, just as she got to the middle of the crosswalk, I saw another woman run out into the street to meet her. Neither woman knew one another. This stranger saw another woman in distress, and that this mother was tired and needed her help. “May I help you,” the stranger said. The mother didn’t hesitate, resist, or question who this strange woman was. She surrendered and handed her son over to the unknown Good Samaritan. The boy could feel his mother’s tension and released her neck. The transfer was made. The mother was relieved and thanked the woman. The woman that came to the mother’s aid asked no questions. She was there only to help and to succor her needs. When the women reached the other side, the mother thanked the stranger and they hugged one another, and then the stranger left. The mother and son walked together towards their destiny and destination.
Jesus sees and he cares about whatever we’re going through. He rushes out to meet us where we are. He knows the load we carry and only asks that we give Him our all. Casting all our care upon Him. He cares for you and me. So well did the poet write in this immortal hymn,
| “What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!” |
All we need to do is let go. Let go of the weight and sin that so easily besets us.