Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jul 12, 2008 19:37:16 GMT -5
Devil's Burden
"There remains a rest to the people of God" (Heb. 4:9).
The rest includes victory, "And the Lord gave them rest"
- (Joshua 21:44).
"He will beautify the meek with victory" (Ps. 149:4).
An eminent Christian worker tells of his mother
who was a very anxious and troubled Christian.
He would talk with her by the hour
trying to convince her of the sinfulness
of fretting, but to no avail.
She was like the old lady who once said
she had suffered so much, especially from
the troubles that never came.
But one morning the mother came down to breakfast
wreathed in smiles. He asked her what had happened,
and she told him that in the night she had a dream.
She was walking along a highway with a great crowd
of people who seemed so tired and burdened.
They were nearly all carrying little black bundles,
and she noticed that there were numerous
repulsive looking beings which she thought
were demons dropping these black bundles
for the people to pick up and carry.
Like the rest, she too had her needless load,
and was weighed down with the devil's bundles.
Looking up, after a while, she saw a Man
with a bright and loving face,
passing hither and thither through the crowd,
and comforting the people.
At last He came near her, and she saw
that it was her Saviour.
She looked up and told Him how tired she was,
and He smiled sadly and said:
"My dear child, I did not give you these loads;
and they are wearing out your life.
Just drop them; refuse to touch them
with one of your fingers and you will
find the path easy and you will be
as if borne on eagle's wings."
He touched her hand, and lo,
peace and joy thrilled her frame
and, flinging down her burden,
she was about to throw herself
at His feet in joyful thanksgiving,
when suddenly she awoke and found that
all her cares were gone. From that day
to the close of her life she was the most
cheerful and happy member of the household.
And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away.
--Longfellow
© STREAMS IN THE DESERT
compiled by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
"There remains a rest to the people of God" (Heb. 4:9).
The rest includes victory, "And the Lord gave them rest"
- (Joshua 21:44).
"He will beautify the meek with victory" (Ps. 149:4).
An eminent Christian worker tells of his mother
who was a very anxious and troubled Christian.
He would talk with her by the hour
trying to convince her of the sinfulness
of fretting, but to no avail.
She was like the old lady who once said
she had suffered so much, especially from
the troubles that never came.
But one morning the mother came down to breakfast
wreathed in smiles. He asked her what had happened,
and she told him that in the night she had a dream.
She was walking along a highway with a great crowd
of people who seemed so tired and burdened.
They were nearly all carrying little black bundles,
and she noticed that there were numerous
repulsive looking beings which she thought
were demons dropping these black bundles
for the people to pick up and carry.
Like the rest, she too had her needless load,
and was weighed down with the devil's bundles.
Looking up, after a while, she saw a Man
with a bright and loving face,
passing hither and thither through the crowd,
and comforting the people.
At last He came near her, and she saw
that it was her Saviour.
She looked up and told Him how tired she was,
and He smiled sadly and said:
"My dear child, I did not give you these loads;
and they are wearing out your life.
Just drop them; refuse to touch them
with one of your fingers and you will
find the path easy and you will be
as if borne on eagle's wings."
He touched her hand, and lo,
peace and joy thrilled her frame
and, flinging down her burden,
she was about to throw herself
at His feet in joyful thanksgiving,
when suddenly she awoke and found that
all her cares were gone. From that day
to the close of her life she was the most
cheerful and happy member of the household.
And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away.
--Longfellow
© STREAMS IN THE DESERT
compiled by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman