“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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.”
-Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30
Every time I read the words of Jesus in this invitation to a lighter yoke, I exhale deeply.
I am so used to carrying the burden, the invisible backpack, if you will, that I shoulder as a Black woman—the deep creases and swollen muscles that mark each shoulder, the curve of my back and jutting out of my neck where it once held itself effortlessly—that when Jesus looks me in the eye and sings, “go lay down, but first gimme that backpack,” I startle. I blink. I look around for someone more worthy of relief. I even start to say, “that’s okay; I’m fine.”
I feel Jesus’ Mama-stare and slight head tilt in these words. You know, the stare that looks right through your bullshit.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to When and Where I Enter to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.