-If the sky that we look upon should tumble and fall, or the mountains should crumble to the sea,
I won’t cry, I won’t cry,
No, I won’t shed a tear,
Just as long as you stand, stand by me.
–“Stand by Me” by Ben E. King, 1961
-Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
–Psalm 68: 19
-“I will live with them and walk among them.”
–2 Corinthians 6:16b
I’ve got a loved one in rehab.
Oops, let me rephrase that…
I’ve got a loved one recovering from a partial hip replacement in a rehabilitation center, crushing her PTOT like a rockstar.
The board in her room is divided into three sections: red (do not do!), yellow (proceed with caution), green (permitted). Sometimes restrictions are included; yesterday, I found “ambulation allowed with walker and a standby.” The nurses quickly granted me “standby status,” even writing my name in the notes to make it official.
So…what, Shelbo, does a standby do?
As the patient moves around, I’m “support staff,” so to speak. I basically hover in the vicinity, out of the way, but prepared to swoop in if there’s a request for help. I maintain a state of constant vigilance…anticipating, spotting, and eliminating potential obstacles in her path, gauging her speed and sussing out signs of struggle or strain. Occasionally, I offer words of warning, encouragement, or counsel.
At one point, we made our way outside to take in the beautiful afternoon, and I thought…
“Woah. Wow! God is my standby!”
Out of sight, not out of reach.
At times, I am so stooped over in stress, weighed down by responsibilities, by a seemingly unending inventory of tasks, by emotional and mental and physical and spiritual overwhelm…so focused on my immediate goal (or confused about what it actually is!)…that I lose sight of Him. I forget to ask for assistance. I neglect the ever-present opportunity to stop and rest with Him, let His hand comfort and guide me. Then I throw in a little pride (I’m strong! I’m fine! I got this!) and add some shame (I should be able to handle this on my own by now! Here I go again! I’m such a burden.)…
I’m not a burden.
(That’s a lie from you-know-who.)
I have a burden. Frequently.
Daily.
And I have Someone to come up beside me, if I only call for Him.
Matthew 11: 28-30–“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
All our burdens, big and small…He wants them all.
He’s just a prayer away…
Always on standby.