Burdens or concerns

By Rennie Phillips

Seems like burdens or concerns are a way of life for most of us here on this earth. Big ones and little ones, some closer than others and some hurts more than others. But they are real. Webster has burden meaning a "heavy load." A concern is "a worry, anxiety." This makes sense. A burden is like a weight on our spirit that seems to be like a backpack full of rocks just weighing us down. But then I guess if one didn't care a burden wouldn't seem so real and important or hurt so much. But it's hard not to care.

Many of us have pets of one kind or another. And it seems like them little suckers sneak into our hearts and make us love them. Our baby cat in the house is one example. She was one of our high tunnel cats so she was probably my cat. She was really little with her weighing about a pound. She got sick, really sick. I was concerned about her or burdened. So I took her to the vet here in Scott City.

They did tests which meant she had blood drawn. She was dehydrated enough it was hard to get blood so it took a bunch of shots. I was wishing they could shoot me and let her alone by the end. Don't get me wrong they were doing their job and doing it well. I was burdened or concerned for Beebee. So I brought her home on drugs and she became a house cat. She is doing well but still doesn't weight three pounds. She will probably always be little.

Several of my good friends have ended up getting cancer so little by little I watched them die. Talk about a burden. Spent many an hour praying for them and taking them before God. It was hard giving them to God and letting them go on to heaven. The burden then changed to more of "I miss them" and not so much a burden. Still miss them. But rather then look at this burden as negative I have always looked at it as a joy to take a person I care about and pray for them.

Several years ago all our baby calves got the scours at the same time and got sick. We had seven bottle babies so this was unusual. Hate when my babies get sick. I know they are just calves but them being sick was a burden. What increased the load was one of them, the youngest, started having seizures. He would be acting fine and he'd tense up and have a seizure. Now what? It took a while but we figured out what the problem was and all but one of them recovered. One was sick enough he went and died on me. This whole deal was a burden, a concern. Turns out it was some of their feed. Burden -- yes, but not one without joys. I truly enjoy our steers. I like to go down by the pasture where they are and just sit and watch them. If I didn't have the steers I'd lose one concern or burden. Nope. I'll keep the steers and deal with the burden or concern as they come.

If you have kids they are an absolute joy but they can also be a burden. The odd thing is even as they get older like ours they are still a burden or a concern. My wife worries about them when they travel. Our one son likes to take off and travel to some distant city so my wife worries. She is concerned or burdened if you will. And as we age we begin to have aches and pains in odd places. So we are concerned.

Many times we look at burdens as bad and unhealthy. I don't think this is right. I think it's healthy to have burdens and cares. It's how we are made. We have several mama cats and they dearly love their babies. And when it comes down to it I fully believe they would give up their life for their babies. That's real love. I hear of incidents where mothers and dads do shameful things to their kids and I have to wonder what is wrong with them. They can't be right or healthy. They just can't be all right and harm their babies.

As I was growing up I know Mom and Dad sacrificed for us kids. They did without so that we could have some of the things we desired or wanted. We were a burden but at the same time a joyful burden.

Today it seems like kids are having kids in kind of a flippant way with almost no thought about the long term relationship they are starting. No thought that this child is mine to feed and clothe and protect and pray for and be there for maybe 50 to 60 or even 70 years. Parenthood is a joyful burden but it is still a burden or a concern.

I've watched people adopt a cute little puppy that will eventually grow up into adulthood. The reality is the puppy grows up and changes from puppyhood into adulthood with a whole new set of challenges. And that same puppy might be a part of your family for 15 or 20 years. We had a house cat that lived to be at least 25 or 26 years old. She at times was a burden but overall a joy to be around. I miss Chubby.

So in your journey through life embrace the burdens laid upon you. Deal with the ones you can solve or fix. But be sure to accept the difficult ones that weight upon your soul. Grow as you journey under this burden or concern. Make it your goal that at the end of your days be able to say "It is well with my soul."