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The difference between me and the next child up was 5 years and that meant they were fed up with me for a lot of the time they had to look after their younger sister. That meant also that I ruined all the games and all the secrets were taken to mama!
At the age of six I had my own friends and we played a lot together in our quiet street or at a home of one of us, but …
My mom worked from home binding huge books of drawings for à design institute but the parents of all of my friends were going to work every day. That is why my friends would go to a kindergarten and come home in the evening. Our home was three blocks from the central market, and two or three times a week my mom would go shopping there early in the morning. As my older brothers and the sister were at school, I had to help my mom bring the shopping home. It would be similar every time and change only with the change of season. The plan was that mama would buy lighter things first and I had to take two bags of things home because it was difficult to walk around the market where there are so many people, to carry the bags and hold my hand in order that I did not get lost.
Mommy would take me out of the market and I start my journey home. The way home was straight and not dangerous so having got the bags I would march the well-known route. I don’t know why but when mom bought a broom it was most shameful for me to carry it and I thought that everyone was looking at me and laughing. I would prefer to carry four heavy bags instead of two but a broom.
Every shopping trip was like every other one but even lighter bags were heavy for me. I wanted to help my mom of course, and wouldn’t say anything to her about how hard it was for me to carry the bags, so I worked out a system of rest.
Starting my way home I would choose a light pole or a tree ahead and that would be my place of rest and I would carry the bags to that point and then take a short rest. Then I would change the bags because always one was slightly lighter than the other. That worked but deep in my heart I had a secret burning dream that one of all these strong adult people rushing by me would help me to carry these heavy bags.
I will never forget that day. The bags were particularly heavy, the sun was particularly hot and distances between my breaks were much shorter. I was ready to cry when I saw two strong hands coming down to my begs. “ Let me help you”. Oh, such a sweet words! I was dreaming of them for so long. But unfortunately I have heard them for the first and the last time on that road. I have looked at my hands out of the corner of my eye – there were two deep red strips left there by the begs handles.
My dear friends, you probably understand by now what I want to thank you for. Yes, you have helped me to carry my burden. “Carry the burdens of one-another and you will fulfill the law of Christ”. You have been carrying our burden when sponsoring our children, and you are still continuing to do that though many of you have your own needs.
You carried our burden when you prayed for our children and for us. You have been carrying our burden of physical tiredness when received us in your homes for short but so needed breaks.
You carried our burdens of emotional tiredness spending time with us and showing us the attractions of your country. You have fulfilled the law of Christ and warmed our hearts.
May our Lord abundantly bless you and if you have the strength and possibility to carry somebody’s burden please do that. Let the tired straighten his shoulders, let hope and joy shine in the eyes because we can carry burdens of one-another.
Lyena Vyshemirska
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