A Hole to Crawl In

One beautiful spring day many years ago, my young children weren't cooperating and I was super discouraged with parenting. I blurted out in despair, "I just need a hole to crawl into to escape for awhile."

I slipped outside and meandered fifty yards from our house to a quiet spot overlooking the pond. I sat down to cry, have a pity party and pray. Six-year-old Bethany found me in my hideout and lovingly presented me a little "hole" she'd made me out of paper and scotch tape, "Here's a hole for you to crawl into mommy," she said with a smile. My heart melted. She sensed I was burdened and sought to encourage me. Needless to say, I've kept that little token of love all these years. 

We all have burdens we carry or crosses to bear. Sometimes they are temporary like my discouragement that day as a young mom, but sometimes they weigh us down for years or even a lifetime. It's always a blessing when we reach out to encourage each other. It helps us carry our heavy loads whether they be physical, emotional or spiritual. 

ALS is a very cruel and torturous physical trial. A naturopathic doctor in Texas, whose husband had ALS, said it was the worst disease she had personally witnessed. 

However as it says in 2 Cor. 2:10, I don't think we should compare our crosses with others. "...But they measuring themselves among themselves and comparing themselves by themselves, are not wise."  

For example, I believe an emotional cross, such as childhood abuse, divorce, or death of a family member, can sometimes be even harder to bear than a physical one like ALS. Even seemingly lighter crosses than ours can be very heavy to the person carrying it. There's so many factors and so many emotional weights the devil tries to add to our cross to pull us down even further. But I'm so thankful that God's grace is sufficient no matter what cross we bear.   

My cross can seem even more heavy when I linger in the land of "why me?" Those pity parties can be toxic. So when I'm tempted to "eat worms" I try to shift my focus to praise, prayer and promises. It's hard for me to camp out in the slough of despond when I'm praising God for my many blessings. 

It's also important to remember that no matter what our situation, God says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.” He hasn't forgotten us in our affliction and gone on to help someone else. His help is freely and consistently given; His promises are sure. He loves us with an everlasting love and He can strengthen us to bear our cross. 

"These things I have spoken unto you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world." John 16:33

We don't need a hole to crawl in to when we have a Savior to go to.