We have done it! Mark and I have made the move to Carluke, and boy has it been stressful. The boiler didn’t work, so for five days we had no heating or hot water! Add to that the fact that we need a new kitchen, new windows and doors, and you’ll understand why it hasn’t been an easy time. Even the garden is in a right old mess.
In the Gospel of Matthew (11:28-30) Jesus says: “Come to me all of you who are weary and carrying very heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”.
How wonderful are the scriptures. They teach, encourage and reassure us that God our Father, Christ Jesus our Lord, and the Holy Spirit are with us every second of every day. They also show us that praying is vitally important when we are stressed. I’m sure you all know the old hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus”. It goes like this:
What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit. O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged. Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Those words helped me to cope in recent times. They helped me to destress, to focus and to keep going in faith. When times are hard for you and your stress levels rise to fever pitch, try carrying it all to God in prayer. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. It really works.
The stress of our move is already beginning to be behind us. All the work we know we need to do will get done in time. As the old saying puts it: Rome wasn’t built in a day! Lots of people have been very helpful and kind to us. Thanks very much for that. I’m sure we will be very happy here as part of the community in Clydesdale.
