After a Monday morning spend cleaning garlic to help a farmer friend who is seriously ill in the hospital, I thought what a gift it is to allow people to help. When there is a catastrophe in life, our friends and family want to help, and so frequently there is little anyone can do to "fix" anything. But giving someone a chance to share the load not only gets the work done, it gives those who come the opportunity to feel better because of helping. It offers folks a chance to exercise their "compassion muscles." I've been thinking so much about a very old song (since I'm a pretty old person these days):
The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another
It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy he's my brother
