The Worry Box

The Worry Box

I had a lovely wooden box, and in this box I put my worries one by one. My worry over my sister-in-law's sudden illness; my concern for my brother when she passed away. The box became a little heavy, but I could still bear it. I added my worries over my husband's surgery; the responsibility I had to administer his eleven different medications; my lack of sleep since he must get up every two hours to go to the bathroom, but still I carried the box. I add the worries of blood clots and infections he might get from the surgery. I now had to use two hands to carry this box.  Still it had room, so I added to it my concerns about my own upcoming doctor's appointment; would my cholesterol be lowered, because I refuse to take the drugs, will my doctor refuse take me as a patient?  The box began to take on a new appearance, and the light golden brown turned dark, and not nearly as lovely. Still, I added more worries to this box, but now it became onerous to bear, and the luster and shine from the box had gone and only blackness remained.

Adding the worries to my box, did not help; it did not hide them away. The box always reminded me that they lay there waiting to crawl out of the cracks that had now appeared in the box. Then I heard a voice speaking gently to me, "Give me the box, child."  I looked and there appeared the Lord Jesus. I wept when I saw him, and I felt ashamed for as His child, I should not have worried, but trusted in Him. I crawled to him, pushing the box before me, for now I could no longer carry the box; its weight was too great.

Jesus picked up the box, took me by the hand, and lifted me up. He wiped the tears from my eyes, and gave me back the box. He told me to open the box, and when I did nothing was there; it was empty. He saw the wonder on my face, and He said, "I have taken those worries from you, child."

"Where are they?" I asked.  

"They are with me, and I will take care of each worry you have. Don't hang onto them, child. You cannot do anything about them. Only I can, and I will take care of each one in my own way, and that way will always be the best way for you. Take all your worries and burdens to me, for in me you will find rest for your soul."

Are you like me? Do you worry more than you should?  Jesus is always there for us.