The Talking Cure

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 

  

  During and after World War One about eighty thousand British soldiers had battle fatigue, or shell shock. It left them shaking, anxious, fearful and unable to cope with much of anything. “The Talking Cure” was found to help some of the soldiers. It seems that talking about their experiences and fears helped the troubled soldiers recovering from shell shock. 

  Two experiences recently reminded me how much talking things out can help. During a doctor visit I expressed some concerns that had been weighing heavily on my mind. After talking to my doctor, I was surprised at how much relief I felt. Having unburdened myself to the physician a weight was lifted from my mind. 

  My wife had been bottling things up for weeks and finally told me what had been bothering her. The tension, silence, and heaviness in the air suddenly disappeared. My wife felt much better for having shared her burden with me. 

  The Lord knew how much we would need each other and how helpful it would be to lean upon one another. When we share our burdens, the load gets lighter. Talking can indeed be a cure for our worries and fears. 

  The stress and weight of life can crush us down to the ground with cares. First and foremost, we should take our burdens and cares to the Lord. But there are times we need to share concerns with loved ones, with friends and family. And in some instances we need to unburden ourselves to health and medical professionals. 

  Sharing our cares and burdens will lighten our load and enable others to offer their wisdom, concern, and patient ear in our times of need. 

  When you feel life weighing you down your first action should be to bow your head in prayer. Your second action should be to share your burden with someone you trust and that can help in your time of need. 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for accepting our cares and burdens and answering our prayers. And thank You for those who help bear our burdens and are there for us when our cares weigh us down. Amen.