Carry

In the almost 49 years of marriage (officially September) my husband and I have called four different residences our home.  With each move, we saw it as the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for us, while still holding onto the many fond memories of each that we still reminisce about today.   In addition to our first night as husband and wife, one of best memories is the tradition that we continued, upon moving into each new home – him carrying me in his arms over the threshold.  When I researched how this tradition started, there were various accounts.  One such story was “by carrying the bride over the threshold, the groom is putting a protective space between her and the floor; thus, protecting her.”  That immediately gave me a warm feeling of safety.  Whether it was our first night as husband and wife, or how we continued the tradition with each new home, it’s a nice feeling to always feel safe wherever we are.  Unfortunately, though, with each move, and getting older, the physical part of him carrying me probably no more than 3 feet has proved to be a little more challenging. (There may be other factors involved which we won’t go into.)  However, this did cause me to reflect on the fact that our Jesus is always carrying us.  His arms and legs don’t fold under the pressure.  It doesn’t matter how much baggage He is carrying, or how heavy the weight that we’re holding on to; it doesn’t ever matter if we keep adding more to His load.  Jesus has, and will always carry us, keeping a protective space between us and the devil.  The bonus is that it comes without cost!  Jesus has already paid the price for you and me.  I think I’ll remember the next time I am weary and feel I can’t do any more, that Jesus takes on my load, without complaint, carrying me in His loving and safe arms.  Thank you, Jesus for being there always to carry us through the rough times.  You are our constant joy, our comforter and our savior always.

“Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you.  I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”  Isaiah 46:4