The Yellow Dump Truck

When our grandson was little, his favorite toy was a large yellow dump truck he received for Christmas. “My dumb twuck!" he'd say. It was nestled beside him in a soft blanket at night and hardly left his side during the day.  
  
He loved playing in the backyard, where he’d fill the truck bed with gravel, dirt (or muddy soil). He’d squeal happily as he pulled a lever to raise the bed, watching as the contents dumped out onto the ground (or occasionally into his lap).
   
But one afternoon, the lever broke. The truck bed would no longer lift, and the end gate wouldn’t open. Frustrated, tears streaming down his cheeks, our grandson shoved the truck to tip it over and spill its contents. (Now, the truck lived up to the erroneous pronunciation of "dumb").     
    
Mama came to the rescue, drying his tears. Covered in dirt from head to toe, she put her son—and then the truck—into the bathtub for a thorough scrubbing.

I thought of our grandson’s frustration. The gravel and dirt had weighed down the truck, making it difficult to maneuver. Stuck. Burdened with a heavy load.  
 
How many times do we get frustrated when the “gravel and dirt” in our lives builds up, and we haven’t disposed of it? Worry, sadness, anxiety, or other concerns pile up, creating a hard-to-manage heap of “stuff”—that interferes with our comfort, peace, or joy.

Spiritually speaking, the dirt represents sin. The gravel could represent other burdens that weigh us down—that hold us captive. 
  
But we are not meant to be held captive by our sins or burdens. God, the Mastermind of all Creation, brought His beloved son, Jesus (Divine—of God Himself—and yet human), to earth to teach His Father’s will. 

Jesus' crucifixion, death, and resurrection enable our salvation from the sin of the world. Jesus paid the price for us to be set free rather than be held captive to sin and condemnation.  

Seeking God’s forgiveness, we are set free as we lay our burdens down at the foot of the cross.    
In the book of Matthew, Jesus’ words offer us this relief: “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.” – Matthew 11:29-30 NIV

In time, our grandson came to understand the meaning of Jesus’ salvation and what it means to metaphorically “dump” burdens at the cross. 
 
May we take refuge in the words of our Lord and Savior. Through His forgiveness and salvation, our hearts become receptive vessels for His peace, love, comfort and joy. 
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Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com   
  

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