Lay Aside All Things That Weigh You Down

     “Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us….” Hebrews 12:1
     I don’t mean to be a “Johnny One Note”, but I cannot get away from this theme. I have prayed, as I always do, before I post and I keep going back to staying on course, finish on time, and keep your mind on what is of true value. Well, here we go again! But, Paul did say he didn’t mind repeating himself on matters because that is the way they stick with us (paraphrased in Texan, of course!). I always like to give you one of my “adventures” to help as a reminder.
     When we were in Oklahoma and after we FINALLY arrived at the Tulsa Convention Center, NOT Civic Center, we had to walk for what seemed like miles! I had on high heeled pumps that matched my outfit I had bought for this special occasion. I knew when I purchased the shoes they weren’t the most comfortable, but I loved them and reasoned in my mind, “Well, I will only wear them to church and it isn’t like I am going to run a marathon in them!” Famous last words!! I was carrying my purse that weighs at least 14 plus pounds. How do I know it weighs this? When we took Gracie to the vet for a checkup I weighed it on the “doggy scale”. That was about 2 months ago and I know it is more now because I have added other things to it. I carry my bifocals, sunglasses, my artificial sweetener (I only like one kind), my Coffee Mate (I don’t like half and half), my make-up KIT, my wallet, etc.. Believe me if we were contestants on “Let’s Make A Deal”, we would WIN my friend!
     As we walked for what seemed at least ten miles from the parking lot to the CONVENTION Center, I kept lagging behind and struggling to keep up! My husband would look behind and say, “Come on, Baby.” I would reply with sweat running streaks through my make-up (now you see why I carry the KIT) ”I am trying.” Oh, and I really was trying! I was trying as hard as I possibly could. Nothing sounded better to me right then than a chair and those tormentors called ‘shoes’ to come off my feet! As my husband, remember I told you earlier he is a genius, turned around again he said, “Here give me your purse, that is what is holding you back.” He took my purse from my arm and immediately I dashed forward and was able to keep up with my 74 year old parents! Then this verse hit me! I wasn’t hurting as much. Even my feet felt the relief! I could keep up with the group without laboring and sweating! I could even enjoy the walk! Why? Because I had been relieved of a weight!
     How many times do we carry unnecessary dead weight that keeps us from moving forward? Weights in life that keep us too long in one place and postpone joy, peace, and the purpose we were born for? “Whom the Son has set free is free indeed!” the Bible tells us. Where are the weights coming from? Our own worries and our own busy “entanglements” of life! We are adding the weights, not God or anyone else. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” But we can also say no one and no thing can weigh us down without our consent! I had put all of those things in the purse and nobody else. In doing so, I weighed myself down with it.
     Let us determine in our minds today, my dear reader, to “lay aside” what is keeping us “down” and run our race with speed, determination, and vigor! Make a pros and cons list of what is really happening in your life. When it comes to the “cons” ask God to show you what needs to go! It would not surprise me if it isn’t everything on that side of the paper! Just like with my purse, you don’t realize all you have added until you start to “clean it out” so to speak! Let us run our race and “get the ‘lead’ out” as one of our coaches used to say! You will feel so much freer because you WILL be!
     Thank you for dropping by, dear reader. May you day be filled with blessings today and always! See you soon!