Last week 3 of my teammates and myself went to the market. Going to the market requires a bus ride, which at times can be frustrating. Around 4:00 or 5:00 pm the busses get more and more busy. This can often lead to a bus passing you by because it is simply too full and cannot take anymore passengers. OR it means that there might be standing room only, and you are able to identify if your neighbor is wearing deodorant or not. The four of us girls were carrying some heavy bags, including a gallon of milk. It might not sound that bad, so let me try and paint this picture a little better. The bus we got on was packed. Standing room only. Each of us had about 4 bags of heavy cans or veggies. Attempting to hold a gallon of milk with one hand, and with your other hand, holding onto the bus railing for dear life because bus drivers here pretend they are featuring in their own Indiana Jones movie…it is not an easy task. It doesn’t help that any way you turn, your bags or backpack hits the person next to you. Do you have a better picture painted now?
In the midst of this struggle and inability to multitask, I look to my right and see this woman. Dressed simple, with a toddler on her lap, and another little one sitting next to her. She had a giant duffle bag on the floor below her feet, most likely filled with most of her belongings. Our eyes meet and she just smiles at me. As she smiles at me she extends her hand and begins to take the heavy bags from my arm and hand. Without any words exchanged, she places my bags on top of her own bag, her lap, and in between her and her child. She exchanges one more smile as if the most selfless act hadn’t just taken place. I kid you not…it took everything in me not to cry because I was absolutely blown away by this strangers selflessness, kindness, and grace. I had done nothing to deserve this selfless act, yet she took it upon herself.
We rode the bus for another 15 minutes until her stop came along. She handed the bags back to me, and with one last smile, grabbed her own bag, two children, and was on her way. As I type these words, I am still in awe and completely amazed. The beautiful realization of this encounter is, Jesus does this for me daily. He takes the heavy load I am carrying and takes it upon Himself. Sometimes I don’t even realize it. I am so busy on focusing on how heavy the burden is, that I don’t notice the hands reaching out to help me with the weight. My prayer is that I begin to cultivate a spirit of surrendering everything to Christ. His word says, “Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7. So wherever you are with God, if you know him or if he is a stranger to you… know that he cares for you. Nothing you can do or say can change his love for you. So what are you waiting for? His hands are outstretched, waiting for you to surrender and say “Yes”.
