I went seashell seeking on the beach with my nieces this morning. We forgot our buckets and I thankfully had on joggers with deep pockets. I told them we needed to limit the amount we picked up because I wouldn’t be able to carry them all. As soon as I said that, I instantly regretted it because how can you tell a kid to just choose a few?! There are so many pretty ones. What ones do you decide to put back? What ones do you deem keepable? How do you discard something so pretty for something just as pretty? To them, they were all worth keeping. So as they picked up the shells, I gladly put them in my pockets, sandy and wet until my pockets grew heavy. I knew when we got back to the house, some would be “awed” and “oooh’d” over, while others would simply be forgotten about. But it was worth the carry, just to see them so happy collecting each and every big and little shell they saw.
Then the Holy Spirit whispered so gently to my spirit: “That’s how I am with you when you have so much you want to carry and take on in your life, so much that doesn’t really matter but matters to you. I know it wil be too much to carry some days, so if you let me, I gladly put those moments and things in my pocket for safe keeping and to lift your heavy burden. On days where your responsibilities are starting to weigh you down, know you can always put them in my hand for safe keeping.”
This really spoke to me for my current season of life, where I’m overwhelmed daily with the amount of “seashells” I have to and choose to carry. As a mom, a wife, and an employee I have many responsibilities fighting for my direct attention everyday. I have so many things I pick up everyday, some important and some not so important, but they all seem important at the time. Often I find my pockets full and my emotions start to overflow just the same. But Jesus just reaches His hand out in every moment, to take on what I can’t, even the unimportant moments and things because he knows they are important to me. Sometimes I recognize His hand and oftentimes, in the chaos of it all, I forget His hand is there. Even in those days, He sends others my way who I will see to be his hands (my sweet Hubby & my family). When I forget and continue filling my pockets until I have no more room, He is still there, walking beside me, pockets ready. Daddy, Abba, always present and patiently waiting for me to turn to him every moment of every day.
That’s all He wants from us everyday. He just wants us to recognize and relax into His constant presence. It doesn’t even have to be a daily devotion, sermon, or wordy prayer – just a moment of soaking into His constant and peaceful presence. Just a “Thank You Jesus”. Today, when you find your pockets starting to fill up with seashells, take a moment to notice the open hand of Jesus. Take a second to relax into his presence, knowing he is with you in every second of every day. Give him your seashells to carry and be at peace, friends.
