Keep it buried
Several years ago, we had a family pet that was named “Stormy”, she was a German Shepherd/black lab mix that weighed in at 100 pounds. She was one of the greatest dogs we ever had. Stormy developed a tumor that became large enough that it slowed her down. She was an older dog so we decided to put her to sleep. It was one of the hardest decisions we had to make, as we all loved her dearly.
When the vet asked my husband and I what we wanted to do with her body, we decided that we would bring her back to the house and bury her on our property. The children would be arriving home from school soon, and we could have a family burial for our beloved pet of many years. So we wrapped that 100 pound dog up in a sheet and brought her home.
While my husband and my two older sons began to dig the hole on our property, I instructed them to keep digging and I would go pick up our young daughter from daycare and when we returned we could have our final good-bye. Before I could return with my daughter, my husband and sons finished digging the hole and went ahead and buried Stormy. Upon arriving back home, my daughter and I were horrified that they had gone ahead and buried our precious pet without us!
My oldest son stood, with his foot still on the shovel and looked over at us blubbering females and said to my husband, “We have to dig her up, don’t we?” My husband replied, “uh-huh!”
We have had alot of pets since Stormy, but I can guarantee you, she was the only dog that died and got buried twice!
I was thinking about Stormy today and that burial story and it dawned on me that we are just like our dog who got buried twice. When we come to the altar with our sins, our problems and our struggles – we give it all to God. We bury our burdens and walk away. But walking away just isn’t enough sometimes. We tend to turn around and pick up the shovel and dig back up all those burdens once again.
“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
I can only imagine how weary and tiring it must have been for my son to dig and dig and dig that grave for our pet, not once – but twice. How tiring it is to keep shoveling and digging dirt, without resting.
The problems that we carry around on our shoulders can become so heavy that it is difficult for us to escape or find rest. Giving it all to God will ease the load. Once we do that, God buries it, never to be reminded of it again! The problem is that we tend to take the shovel from God’s hand and we unbury those burdens and take them back on our shoulders.
So who has control of the shovel – you or God? Isn’t it time to bury those burdens once and for all? Today is the day … give the shovel back to God!
Visit me for daily devotions at WOMENTAKINGASTAND
This is so wonderful! I am in a resting season where the Lord is calling me to just lay everything down and let Him carry it – to just say no to many activites and spend time resting at home – and it’s so hard to not feel guilty about that! We have such a go,go,go culture, and we are judged by how much we accomplish – but in Christ’s kingdom it’s not that way! Jesus calls us to give it all to Him and let Him give us REST.
Thank you for this encouraging word today!
Outstanding post Laurie. Great message and I “get” you and your daughter. Sending you hugs and appreciation for this message. Love you.
Amen sis.
Oh, Laurie, how often do I go back to the altar to pick-up what I previously left there for God to handle. Thank you for the reminder to just leave it there.
Wonderful lesson here, Laurie. Thanks for sharing the encouragement.
have a great weekend.