Grandma Sadie

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

I loved spending the night with my Grandma Sadie (my Mama's mother). She lived here in the country just minutes away from my daddy's parents. Mawmaw Sadie was a hard worker; always busy with what had to be done. She cleaned and cooked and mowed the grass. She milked her cow, Babe. She fed her yard chickens (free range as they call it now) and raised her only grandson. She was a strong and independent woman. Mawmaw loved the Lord and prayed often, sometimes I could hear her praying from the living room window as I played in the front yard.

One of my most special memories I have of Mawmaw Sadie is her beds. She had the best, in my opinion. They were the big, overstuffed, feather beds with worn cotton sheets that caused you to nestle deep when you piled in for a nights sleep. But best of all were the limitless number of quilts she placed on top of you when she tucked you in for the night. (It gave the name to the now popular 'weighted' blanket.)

I can remember laying there many minutes after we said our prayers and kissed good night just relishing the heaviness of the downward force that was on top and all around me. The warm, cocoon-like feeling I had as if being enveloped in the middle of a warm sea of protection. I could never be afraid of the nights darkness wrapped in Mawmaw's precious quilts.

Each morning I would be awakened to the smell of sausage cooking and the sounds of the radio show 'Tell Me How', playing in the kitchen. On special mornings I would open my eyes to find a new barn kitten cradled in my arms that Mawmaw had found while out for her early morning duties. She was good like that. Her smiles and hugs were warm and inviting and always carrying a pocket full of candy. She knew how to end the night and begin a new morning for us grandchildren, making our short time together each summer so special.

When I read this scripture and think of God's yoke that he lays on us I think of that warm bed at my grandmother's house. You see, we are to come and take His yoke from Him and He does the rest. When we struggle and carry heavy burdens, feeling overloaded with the cares of this world, we are to give it all to Jesus.

The yoke was a double harness in which two animals pulled together. One harness was usually larger and meant for the stronger, more experienced animal, while the smaller was used for the animal being trained. The yoke of Jesus clearly implies that even though we are free from the Law, we are not to make our own rules. We are to be harnessed to Jesus, living life His way. When we take His yoke we are allowing Him to guide us, protect us and cover us with His power.

With Jesus' yoke on us there is no reason to be afraid of the night's darkness. Rest easy in Him, girls. Trust and obey, for there's no other way.

I love you & He loves you more!

Lord, May I come to you and give you my burdens. May I take Your yoke on me and learn to live in the freedom You gave to me. May I rest easy in Your grace and learn from You that Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. I find rest in You. In Jesus' name. Amen.