THE DOG WHO COULD

Mr. Stringer didn’t know he shouldn’t be happy, shouldn’t smile. His new family adopted him, even though his back legs were paralyzed. Doctor after doctor said the same thing; we don’t know why he’s paralyzed. So, his new mom set out to help him walk again. Day after day, she did physical therapy, took him to the beach in a doggy wheelchair ( wheels in the back only) to help him strengthen his legs. His favorite exercise was swimming in the ocean. He would come out of the water dragging his back legs on the warm sand, always smiling, always happy. Year after year this regiment continued. Slowly, they began to see Mr. Stringer using his back legs! After FIVE long years he was able to not only walk but to run on the sandy beaches where he used to drag his legs. Although that was an amazing feat, it was also about something else…Mr. Stringer was just as happy, just as joyful, as when he couldn’t walk. Why? As humans, we too can carry around “ stuff” that hinder our joy, our purpose, our quality of life. It may be because the “ stuff” is too hard to get rid of, or it’s too much work, or we are afraid of what our lives will be like if we do get rid of our familiar baggage. But, sometimes it’s also because we don’t know how to do it or who could even help us. Yes, we all need help, we need each other, we need God. You see, Mr. Stringer’s joy wasn’t because he could walk again…it was because he had been adopted into a family who loved and cared for him…who shouldered the burden he carried….and they never gave up on him. They loved him just as he was but was willing to go the long haul of carrying his burdens until it was finally gone. This is the image of Jesus. As He says in Matt. 11:28 “ Come to me, all who are heavy burden, and I will give you rest”. He took on our burdens, our sins, so that we wouldn’t have to carry it anymore. And He was the only one who could. He loved us just as we were, with all the frailties that haunts all of our lives, but he doesn’t leave us that way. Only through Jesus can our lives be transformed from living in darkness to shining in the Light. And, like Mr. Stringer’s new family, he did it because of LOVE. Are you at a point where you are tired of carrying around burdens, sins, sadness? If so, ask Jesus to help you find your way….the way back home. It doesn’t mean your life won’t have it’s trials..it just means Jesus will be carrying the weight. Mr. Stringer can now run free of the burden of carrying his paralyzed legs because someone helped him find his true joy….LOVE. I pray for the person who is reading this blog that you too will find the love that can set you free…the love only Jesus can give you.