Strong

I watched a momma and her little girl get ready to leave the store and brave the dash across the parking lot in the cold rain. The mom handed her daughter a bag of toilet tissue and asked her, "can you handle it?" The little girl replied, "I'm strong!" 

I laughed to myself, as I pondered her confidence. How small her strength seemed to me and how light her little load would be if I were the one carrying it. I'm so much stronger than she is. But, there was no doubt or shadow of uncertainty in her brave little mind. She was strong (even though she struggled under all the weight of her burden, trying hard not to need help).

And in that moment, I felt I could see God. He was smiling at a little girl too, chuckling even. Except the little girl whose strength was small to Him, whose burden He could easily bear if she would receive His help, was not really so small herself. She is strong, yes. But the Lord can carry so much more than she can.

I do need Your help, Father. Carry my burdens for me. But thank you for not chiding me for trying to be strong and carrying too much. I'm glad I make you smile even in my weakness wrapped with stubbornness. Remind me how good it feels when someone helps you carry your things. And Lord? I needed to see Your smile tonight. I forget sometimes that You do that, smile on us. But you do. I love you. Ahh-men!