Once during a SG meeting, a question was raised – “Do you have a sense of longing for heaven?” Some said they have so much to handle in this life that they just do not have time to think so far. Others are absorbed with meeting family needs or busy with their career. Another felt it is too abstract.
As for me, I long for heaven. Maybe it is because I have less responsibilities and commitments. Or maybe I do not have as many things to look forward to as compared to others.
I do not get to hear little feet
running about in my home.
I do not get to fuss over them
for their first day at school.
I do not get to look forward
to hear anyone calling me “Mama”.
For these reasons, sometimes I feel my life lacks a little lustre.
Jesus said in Matt 11:29-30
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
I imagine no animal will want to be yoked. The yoke means subservience and toiling; something oppressive or burdensome. It is placed upon the animal without consent. And in this life, different yokes are placed upon us.
One of the yokes in life that is placed upon me is the yoke of an empty womb. It was unexpectedly placed upon me. I expected my household to be filled with children just like my parents’ (they have a brood of eight). I imagined my household to be so noisy. But it turned out to be so quiet.
Jesus says: “Take my yoke upon you.” He did not just put any yoke on me but He asked me to take His yoke and put it on. He invites me to learn from Him. He promised that I will find rest for my soul. And when I took His yoke, I experienced a life that is yoked to God.
I learn to take His yoke daily, though with much tears but I learn from Him. He leads and guides me tenderly as I grieve for the loss of motherhood. He mends my broken heart. And every tear I cry is kept in His palm. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
We are often troubled and hard pressed in life; our responsibilities, our aspirations and our losses. Let us surrender our will, our purposes, hopes and dreams to Him. Let them go. Do not let them cloud us or hinder His purposes for our lives. Let us move forward to allow Him to grow us; to bloom and blossom in Him, with Him and through Him. Take His yoke and put it on. Let Him direct, guide and lead us. Let Him take over.
Taking up His yoke, I have found more than just lustre in life. I found zest for life. And this zest for life is found in God – in knowing Him, in loving Him and in serving Him. I found the excitement of discovering who my God is; the God of Great Wonders. I experience the splendour of His love when so often I have felt so broken.
Yes, I do look forward to heaven not because my life here on earth lacks of lustre. But because I will meet Him face to face. Him whom“All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life,and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:3-4)
By Amy Ong, Pastoral Staff (YCKC Bulletin 19&20 August 2017)