Lay Down Your Load

by Christen Hayes, the Jonesboro Family Care Case Manager

Have you seen Encanto yet? Ha! If you spend any time with a young child the better question is probably, how many times have you seen Encanto? Our family can quote most of the movie and I’ve had several people share with me how they resonate with one of the characters. Every single time it gets to this same spot, I cry. The main family is mourning their loss and begins singing the song “All of You” when the whole town shows up. The lyrics say: 

“Lay down your load. We are only down the road. We have no gifts, but we are many and we’ll do anything for you. It’s a dream when we work as a team. You’re so strong! Yeah, but sometimes I cry (So do I!)” 

Cue the tears. When I hear these lyrics I think about when my dad was really sick and “my town” showed up. My neighbor was taking my son to school. My best friend was watching my daughter and handling afternoon school pickup. Other friends were bringing meals. Coworkers stepped up and took care of business. My church was praying, calling, texting. Others were sending prayers, encouraging messages and checking in every day to see what we needed. They didn’t have any special skills, they were just walking down that scary road with us, doing anything we needed. It was beautiful! 

I cannot imagine going through that time without such an amazing support system. This type of support is what we want for every struggling family in our communities. Whether it is a foster family with a new child in the home, a single parent balancing work, bills and parenting, a hurting couple considering divorce, or empty nesters facing illness, we want them to know they can “lay down {their} load...we’ll do anything for you”. 

Church members! We are many! Let’s work as a team. We are stronger together and we can strengthen families for God’s glory when we step in and help carry the load. Sometimes you might cry (I do!) and that’s ok! 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV

Let’s do this, Church! The next time you become aware of a family needing help let’s remember, “we are many and we’ll do anything for you.” 

Miranda, Lin-Manuel. “All of You.” Encanto. Performed by Stephanie Beatriz, Olga Merediz, John Leguizamo, Adassa, Maluma & Cast