The Basket

“This better be worth it,” I muttered through gritted teeth. The straps of
my backpack bit into my shoulders, making each step feel heavier than the
last.

“Malik said it would be just around this bend. If he’s wrong, I’m gonna
tell him to carry this stupid weight all this way.” I knew it didn’t
actually work that way—nobody could carry somebody else’s weight—but the
thought made a wry smile stretch across my face. If Malik was right, soon
I’d finally be able to put this weight down. I’d been carrying it for a
long, long time.

I followed a bend in the trail, and a gasp escaped my mouth. I saw it.
“This. This has to be the place.” Straight in front of me stood a glorious
building made of precious gold, shimmering silver, and glittering gems. It
seemed to shine in the afternoon light.

I pushed open the heavy wooden door, and inside I found a man. While His
simple clothing wasn’t nearly as glamorous as the building around Him, He
still seemed radiant. Before Him sat a large basket.

“Welcome, Dominic.” He smiled. “I’m so happy to see you.” He glanced at my
backpack. “That looks heavy. Would you like to put it down?” He asked,
waving a scarred hand at the basket. I remembered Malik’s words when he
told me that He would take whatever I put in the basket.

“Y-yes, I think I would.”

“Here, let me help.” He gently lifted the bag from my back and opened it on
the floor, exposing its contents. Inside, I saw my life. Rocks of various
shapes and sizes, each one labeled—mistakes, regrets, and hurts mingled
with my talents, achievements, and prized relationships. I knelt to the
floor, and one by one, I placed each rock in His basket.

I expected to feel lighter, and I did, but a heaviness remained in my
heart. I just couldn’t shake it. Giving Him the contents of my backpack
didn’t feel like enough. Confused and desperate, I began to panic. “Why do
I still feel this way? What else do I have?”

In my desperation I looked up at Him, and in His eyes I saw…love. And
suddenly, the answer was clear. Before I quite knew what I was doing, I got
to my feet. He seemed to read my mind and beamed as He held out a hand to
help me balance.

Then, I got into the basket. • Taylor Eising

• What is weighing heavily on you today? Consider taking a moment to
imagine all these things as heavy objects. What are these objects, and what
do they represent? Do you feel like you can give these things to Jesus? Why
or why not?

• Because God cares about us, we can cast all our burdens on Him (1 Peter
5:7). Jesus, in His grace, gives us the faith to drop all our worries at
His feet and rely on His love. How can the truth that Jesus cares about
us—and every part of our lives—make it easier for us to entrust our
troubles to Him?

• What do you notice about Jesus in this story? Why do you think the author
depicted Him this way?

• Why do you think Dominic got into the basket?

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a
burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not
reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Psalm 51:16-17 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Ps.55.22|Matt.11.28-Matt.11.30|1Pet.5.6-1Pet.5.7|Ps.51.16-Ps.51.17