Laying aside the weights which so easily entangles us - to run free the race God gave us

 I wrote this some years back, and only now posting this.   Yes, the remarks and the people that gave them are forgiven, but sometimes a reminder pops us and it still sting. Just a reminder to forgive again.   Whether the remarks were made intentionally or unintentionally, it does not matter.   And I am posting this... because maybe you received remarks that stung, about something that you believed were what you were supposed to do, and stopped doing it. Forgive and give it over to God. Leave it in His Hands, and do what He called you to do. 

Laying aside the weights which so easily entangles us - to run free the race God gave us

So there was me

living my life

Doing what is right

What God placed on my heart

perhaps it looked different that your job

Remarks and comments came my way

I would take the punch and brush it off

but in defense learned to hide

learned to accommodate your ignorance

started to bother what others would say

I knew in my heart I did what was right 

perhaps I have tripped up and messed up at times

fell down and bruised my knee

we all do...

but more comments came

that hurt

comments that humiliated me

and I learned to worry what others say

but carried on what i need to do

but had this heavy burden to bear

that was never meant to be carried

tears cried in secret that was never meant to be cried

We all have different roles to play

we all have different places to go

we all can only do so much, and not more

It came to a point where I was not in a good space

because this burden of caring what others thought of me

was just too much.

I had to ask myself

what happened to the girl that said

"I don't care what it takes, I don't care what they say"

Where is she? 

and I let go of the burden

I could not carry it anymore

and I let it go

and now I am free

free to serve where God placed me to serve

and not to worry about your comments

your rotten tomato thrown in my face

God will help you understand your place, and my place

and we should not compare each other's places

just serve your God

with the purpose He gave you

Riana Odendaal

October 2019