Learn the Lesson of Boulders and Knapsacks
I have always had a heart for those who suffer – wanting to help any way I could. I would venture to say that if you’re involved in a support role with a Cancer Support Group, you may share the same heart.
Unfortunately, the well-meaning yearning of my heart eventually caused me to burn out physically and emotionally. Let me share why this happened to me, so the same thing will not happen to you as you help others endure their cancer journey.
As a Christian, I knew we were commanded to:
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Galations 6:2
Every need that came across my path I tried to take care of. Eventually, there were so many needs, it was impossible for me to meet them all - resulting in total burn-out.
Part of my healing process was therapy. Through my counselor, I learned a very valuable lesson so it would not happen to me again.
My counselor told me burdens in the Greek translates into boulder. A boulder is something too heavy for an individual to carry alone. So, yes, we, as Christians, are to come alongside one another and help carry one another’s boulders.
But he pointed out that the Scripture also says:
"... for each one should carry his own load."
Galations 6:5
Load in the Greek translates into knapsack, something that each individual is responsible to carry on his own. So, there are boulders, and there are knapsacks. We are to help carry one another’s boulders but not one another’s knapsacks. When we carry other’s knapsacks, we get in the way of their maturing process.
I not only carried everyone’s boulders, but I also carried everyone’s knapsacks. In order for me to heal and lead a healthy life, my counselor said I needed to learn to discern between what was a boulder or knapsack in one’s life.
I believe that learning this lesson was preparation for the ministry we now lead. It is important for us to focus on the boulders, so we’re not bogged down and worn out by the knapsacks.
As a Christian cancer support group, you can come alongside and help others carry their boulders on the cancer journey – helping them to endure. In my future blogs, we will be identifying those boulders and how you can help without carrying anyone’s knapsacks.
On the journey,
Jan Dravecky
Endurance
with Jan and Dave Dravecky
“Provision through the journey of suffering”
(A ministry of Dave Dravecky’s Outreach of Hope)