Burden Sharing, February 13
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by Justin and Karen Wood
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 NIV).
“My three-year-old son had been hospitalized due to some complications from his leukemia chemotherapy treatments. His blood counts were high enough to allow him to go to the hospital playroom. On that particular day, we had been assigned a nursing student. Although she was eager to help in any way she was needed, that day I didn’t have any requests and didn’t feel up to “entertaining” someone for the day. While keeping a watchful eye on the playroom, the nursing student and I began to walk in the hallway. For some unknown reason, I began to pour out my heart to this young woman. As we walked, I told her that my son wasn’t supposed to be there, playing in a hospital playroom. He was supposed to be at home, playing in his room, playing with his own toys. She quietly walked beside me. She didn’t offer any answers. She just let me talk. I have often thought of this young woman. I don’t think our paths ever crossed again, yet I believe that with her compassionate heart she became a great nurse with a successful career.”
My mom wrote this about me. I was the son with leukemia. My mom was the one with the heavy burden. We still don’t know the nursing student's name. This story occurred over forty years ago, yet the impact continues to ripple today. When this simple event occurred, it did not make the headlines—but it lasted. It will continue to ripple into eternity. Why?
Today’s verse explains why. It tells us that all of Christ’s law (His teachings) are carried out with one simple task—carrying each other’s burdens. That is it. If you want to be like Jesus, then carry each other’s burdens.
But with so many burdens around us, whose burdens do we carry?
The original Greek language clarifies this. The word “carry” means “to lift” those you are “walking with” or “in pace with.” So, if we want to fulfill the law of Christ, then we must simply help carry the burdens of those we are walking with in life. In some ways, we walk in their shoes. We see how they travel their path.
Of course, here is where I have the problem: I want to do more than lift up the burdens of the people I am walking through life with. I think the verse should say “fix” or “delete” or “alleviate” the burden—but it doesn’t. Fixing problems is not part of fulfilling Christ’s law. We are not called to be “burden-fixers.”
Instead, we carry the burdens of others by walking at their pace. In this, we walk as Christ walked. We share life as Christ shared life on this earth. It isn’t easy. It’s messy. But this is the way to fulfill the law of Christ. You cannot fulfill Christ’s law through completing a great Bible study or attending more worship services. Those are wonderful. But fulfilling the law of Christ requires you to step out and share the other person’s burden. You see, by helping carry another’s burden, you are transformed to be more and more like Jesus.
Pray: Jesus, thank You for carrying our burdens. Give me the patience and strength to walk with others and help carry their burdens today. Amen.
Your Turn: Cancer does not prevent you from carrying another’s burden. List three ways that you can help carry another’s burden as you cope with cancer. Now pray for God to show you how to do this.
Justin Wood, Childhood Cancer Survivor
Justin lives in Bowling Green, Kentucky with his wife and six homeschooled kids. Through his life, Justin has become a wonderful mix of entrepreneur, English teacher, and foreign missionary. He is a survivor of childhood cancer. Justin is very grateful for Cancer Companions and the opportunity to be a part of this devotional writing process.
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