In Others’ Words: When You Lighten the Burdens of Others

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, quote about life, Relationships 8 Comments

No One is Useless 2016

There are times I get to the end of the day and I think, “What did I accomplish today?”

Actually, I usually think, “I didn’t get anything accomplished today.”

Somewhere along the way I lost my To Do list. Or circumstances ran over my plans for the day. I want to find a red pen and mark the day with a big “F.”

Fail.

It’s funny — not “ha ha” funny, but pathetic — how crossing things off my list makes me feel fulfilled. Meaningful. Been-there-accomplished-that proud.

  1. I beat back the laundry. 
  2. I submitted edits to my publisher. 
  3. I exercised.
  4. I went to physical therapy. 

Maybe, just maybe, I’m asking the wrong question at the end of those “what did I accomplish” days. Maybe I should ask this question instead: Did I lighten anyone else’s burden today? 

No day is wasted if I’ve considered the needs of others more important than my want-to-do list. I know how I feel when someone takes time out of their busy day to lighten my burden. I feel seen. Valued. 

In Your Words: When has someone taken time to lighten your burden? How do remember to focus on others’ and not just your To Do list? 

[Tweet “In Others’ Words: When You Lighten the Burdens of Others #InOthersWords #lifequotes #relationships”] [Tweet “”No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it for anyone else.” #quotes #CharlesDickens #relationships”]

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Comments 8

  1. You lighten my burden every day we walk with your words of encouragement, your listening ear and constant prayers!

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  2. I love thinking of life as a success with the backdrop being lightening someone’s burden. I have a Facebook friend (who I’ve never met) who checks in almost every day. If we go more than a couple of days without messaging, she’ll send me a note, “Are you okay?” We’ve been “talking” like this for almost a year and it’s comforting. She’s helped lighten many burdens.

    I’m happy you asked. 🙂

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      Kim:
      Isn’t it amazing how God blesses us with those “friends we’ve never met”? And how those friendships can be such an encouragement? I know we often bemoan the negative aspects of FB, but there are reasons to be thankful for it too — and you just highlighted one of the positive reasons to interact with others on FB.

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