“Close your eyes and hold out your hands. I have an amazing gift that I have designed just for you. You are going to love this,” He said. I held my arms out in front of me. He looked down at my tightly closed fists.
“Open your hands.”
“But Lord, I can’t. I can't let go.”
“Let go of what? What are you holding on to? I need you to open your hands.”
I slowly extended my fingers, carefully steadying my hands so as not to spill any of the treasured contents.
“Well, there’s quite a collection there,” He said. “Here, let me take this.” He reached out and carefully picked a fragment from my hand.
“But Lord…”
He shook his head. “This is not yours to carry. This is mine. How long have you been holding on to this bitterness?" He was now looking into my eyes, deep into my heart. "You are right. What they did to you was unjust and painful, but it is not your responsibility to fix it. Trust me.”
I felt a lump in my throat. “But, Lord… I don’t know how.”
“Just let me take it. Surrender it to me,” He whispered softly. “You don’t need to know the why or the how." I bowed my head and looked at all the pieces of clutter in my palms. They no longer seemed precious or sacred.
“And this, this is not serving you well,” He plucked another broken piece from my hand. “Fear is not my intention for you. Faith is the better choice.” His eyes were smiling, not scolding. Tears were flooding my cheeks now. I watched as one by one He removed the broken scraps and remnants from my now shaking hands.
“That weighty grudge you’ve held for so long…it’s mine now. Those nagging fears of failure and of not measuring up….I’m taking those too. All of the haunting worries of what other people say or think about you…also mine.”
I looked down at my now amazingly empty palms. I suddenly felt lighter—as if a backpack of heavy rocks had been gently lifted from my shoulders.
“Now you are ready, “He beamed, “You can only receive what I have for you when you have open hands and an open heart. Now close your eyes. Get ready! What I have for you is beyond magnificent and you are going to be blown away!”
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