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I’ve noticed during my travels and ministry through the years that people and some preachers and teachers use the word “burden” in a way that is becoming contaminated.

Sorry if this steps on your toes.

Burden: The definition shows it to be a heavy load that would be too much for a child or a defeated, weak person to try to carry alone. Truly, a struggle, especially for a child or youth to hear and be a part of adult or parental problems.

Leave them out.

Yoke: A collar, most of the time wooden, or leather fitting over each animal and locked, helping them to work together, sometimes the strong leading-a-little to encourage the weaker one.

Years ago and still on farms, internationally, they use oxen or “beasts of burden” (they are sometimes called). They are yoked together, sometimes the weaker one being helped along by the strong one.

One of my favorite Scriptures expresses my heart and I try to use in my life, Matthew 11:28-30.

He will give us rest as we come to Him and to take His Yoke upon us and learn from Him, for His Yoke is easy and His Burden is light.

I have paraphrased these verses, feel free to read in your Bible how Jesus tells us to Learn from Him (follow Him) and be refreshed in your soul!

If you don’t know Him, simply ask Him into your heart and life will begin to make sense and a new plan will unfold for you.

Kathie Deasy writes about religion for Orange Newsmedia. She can be reached at kathiedeasy@hotmail.com.