You carry it well, but you don’t have to carry it alone

“You carry it well.”

Those were the words someone told me after asking if I was pregnant. I wasn’t. I had just gotten married a few months before and I had gained weight. The thing about happiness and contentment is sometimes it shows on the hips — a few extra pounds. And I am happy. And that is Ok.

I am working in self love and self acceptance and self motivation to take better care of myself. And a long time ago I made a deal with myself that I will not hate my body again.

But, as I thought about those words, I thought about how they apply to so many situations.

When the person made the comment, she had no clue I had an eating disorder in high school or that I would starve myself to be thin. Not many people do. I carry the weight of that story well.

She told me I was glowing and she told me I was happy since I said “I do.” Those words are true.

But I carry trauma with me from moments I wish I’d stood up for what I deserved. From regrets of settling in relationships when I should have used my voice and I should have walked away. And I carry that well too.

I don’t know your story, but I know this.

We all have our own stories and our own experiences that have made us who we are, the good, bad and ugly times.

It’s good to know that through it all we don’t have to carry it alone.

We can take our burdens, trauma and pain to Jesus. He will carry it for us. And when we can’t seem to put one foot in front of the other, He will carry us.

If you’re struggling or overwhelmed, I wrote this for you.

Maybe you should remind yourself to extend grace to yourself in this season. You don’t have to carry your pain alone. You can take it to God, you can take it to Christians and ask them to pray for you, heck, you can even take it to a professional (therapist) and know you will find healing (and that is definitely Ok).

Even though you may carry it well, you too, my friend, can lay it down at the feet of Jesus and find rest.