Empty Pockets

It was Mr. Bill’s idea to put the washer and dryer in the basement – yes, Mr. Bill’s idea.  Hence, Mr. Bill does the laundry.  On occasion, however, I make the dreaded journey to casa’s depths.  Since washers and dryers prefer empty pockets, I usually discover an interesting collection of items on the dryer: coins, nails, ink pens, gem clips, receipts. Hey, sometimes the collection is actually worth the trip south!

Like loads of laundry, the loads of life are often heavy. At times I find myself gasping for breath, anxious for a fresher source of air. Hauling one day's burdens into the next is a terrible day-starter, too.  The new day should not be welcomed with dread nor begun in despair.  Not sure what Alma Barkman’s burden was but she wrote these thoughts as she patched pockets, "As I mend the holes and reinforce the seams, I am reminded of all the worries, fears, anxieties and doubts we carry around from week to week without really noticing them.  Suddenly the accumulated weight becomes too much, and we break under the strain.  We need to develop the habit of emptying our pockets, so to speak.  We must spread out our feelings before the Lord, prayerfully sort things through, and ask him to dispose of the trash. In so doing we will discover that we have exchanged our 'spirit of despair' for a 'garment of praise'."  I love how Solomon offers this recipe for the new day, "So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body."  (Ecclesiastes 11:10)  My, how I need empty pockets, giving their troublesome contents to Christ rather than tossing-turning, worrying-fretting.  Do you want to be effective for Christ today?  Well, now … let’s empty our pockets!