My entire being ached from the journey.

My overly stuffed backpack burdened me far more than it helped me in my walk.

My discomfort grew with every step.

I had to stop.

Gingerly, I sat down with my baggage. Then I saw Him. 

When our eyes met, I nervously looked away.

It was Jesus.

I could sense He was still looking my way and that He cared about the heaviness of the load I carried.

With sorrow in His eyes, He watched me with such compassion.

I wept. 

I could no longer trek with my heavy cargo.

Even though the weight of it caused me such anguish, I assumed it all needed my attention. That’s why I continued to carry it. 

I sat down to rummage through everything inside.

The clutter lying crumpled and disheveled throughout my bag, left me wondering how I could properly continue my journey with it.

I looked up at Jesus again.

From the care on His face, I knew He had never taken His eyes off me.  

The same sense of anticipation remained within His presence.

I breathed deeply and looked again at my ever-growing weight.

Next to it lay a white box. Had that been there all along? 

The lid sat ajar just enough to encourage my inspection of its contents.

I peeked inside.

Empty. 

The size of the box matched the size of my bag exactly. 

That’s when I knew.

So, one by one, I carefully pulled each crumpled and worn piece from my bag, pausing long enough to inspect it once more from every angle before placing it into the box.

The more I removed, the more my backpack began to fade. 

The more I added to the box, the more it began to shine!

After placing the last mass into the box, with a deep exhale of assurance, I affixed the lid on top.

A red ribbon glistened where my baggage had previously sat.

With care, I tied the ribbon around the box and over the lid to seal it closed.

I even had enough ribbon to craft a large bow at the top.

I looked to Him again.

Jesus smiled.

He eagerly awaited His gift with outstretched arms. 

So, I lifted the box from the ground with one final groan, and gratefully offered it to Him.

Nodding with a smile, He received it with ease in one hand and extended to me His other.

I grabbed hold.

Then I skipped next to Him, singing His praises. 

Give your burdens to the Lord and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. ~Psalm 55:22