Galatians 6:2 & 5 - Paradox of Burdens

Scripture is full of paradoxes, and one is found in Galatians 6.
"Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
...each one will bear his own load." (Galatians 6:2 & 5, New American Standard Bible 1995)

There are many different kinds of burdens, and this chapter is not about grieving the loss of a loved one. However, this text came to mind this week. Some of my acquaintances and coworkers are dealing with grief and this passage is relevant to those burdens as well.

Death brings its own set of accompanying burdens. A farmer is no longer there to take crops out of the fields. A wife and mother leaves chores undone. A husband and father never finishes his tasks.

Who will fix the meals? Who is left to pay the bills--not just paying them, but finding the money to pay them? Who will look after little kids... or attend school events of older kids? When the bereaved have to take time off from work, who will take up the slack?

Sometimes the grief is not loss of life, but the loss of divorce, the loss of a job, the loss of health... any number of things that reduce someone's ability to carry on in life.

Of course we can offer a hug and a listening ear, a calming presence. But the actual burden of grief is left for the individual to carry.

On the other hand, there are all the other accompanying losses that we can shoulder for them: Other farmers do the harvesting. Friends clean the house. Others bring in meals. Neighbors mow the lawn. Relatives look after children.

When we carry those kinds of burdens for others, we fulfill the law of love--the law of Christ. 

Lord, sometimes we are at loss to know what to do to help those in a helpless situation. Give us insight to know what we can do, and the strength to do it... to show the love of Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen.