Blessed Burden

Well. My first blog.

My first attempt at letting the whole world know what I think and why I think it.
And I get more than 160 characters.

I was inspired by my friend Tanner Olson (of course, after reading his blog) to start something new this year, and I decided entering the blogosphere would be the way to go.

blessed burden

I find myself between these two words often. 
Blessing.
Burden.

Life is quite burdensome. Bills to pay (I forgot to pay my internet bill last month, and they slapped me with a fee!), work to do, a cockroach-infested apartment, a dog to let out before she poops on the rug... There is always so much to do and to deal with. More than that, there are personal struggles: rejection, doubt, despair, anger, hopelessness. Sometimes, life can be quite... burdensome.

But these are really nothing compared to how "burdensome" the blessings in my life are. I got married to a beautiful, smart, compassionate woman, and we found out we are going to be parents soon. We might try to hide the facts behind romance and wishful thinking, but I have to love and cherish another person like God loves me! I'm going to be responsible for another person's life! Wow, these are far bigger burdens than any burdensome thing could ever be. If I take my blessings seriously, they are far heavier and weightier than all of the things I label as "burdens."

In the midst of these things, I heard Jesus cry out, "Come to me, all you 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." (Matthew 11:28-30)

     What we call "burdens" are what we ourselves do not give God control over. Our burdens feel overwhelming because we are trying to handle them on our own. Jesus is calling us to give him our whole lives. He will be our God, and we will be his people. He will carry us.
     What we call "blessings" are usually the most burdensome things. Although they are hard, they are given to us to make the most of.

God's biggest blessing is a people that put their hope and trust in him. God's biggest burden is caring for a people that sometimes fail to put their hope and trust in him, a people that he gave up his Son for.
My biggest blessing this year is a wife that loves and cherishes me, and a baby on the way. My biggest burden is loving and cherishing my wife as much as God loves the Church (or as close as I can get to that), and taking care of the new life God has entrusted to me. And Jesus has promised to carry me and my blessed burdens, never letting me out of his gentle care.

What's your blessed burden in 2013?