bearing burdens

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

There is a weighty joy to bearing, to stepping under, the burdens of others. It's a mystery, how this is even possible. If it's my pain and my suffering, you knowing about it doesn't make it go away. And yet, one of the greatest ways I have been comforted in my own hurt is to have a sister weep with me, enter into that hurt in the ways that she could, and say, "I'm so sorry. It isn't supposed to be like this." It's a paradox and yet it makes sense, that we lighten each other's loads by bearing them with our brothers and sisters. Lord, teach me to bear the burdens of others in right ways. Teach me also to cast my burdens on you. Teach us how to do both, and to do them with love and trust and hope. Mold me into a vessel hollowed out to hold more of your grace to supply the needs of others.