"She ain't heavy...(oof!! well, maybe a little)...she's my sister."

This is one of my favorite pictures of granddaughters Liliana and Miriam.  Liliana, smiling, seems to be proud of being able to hold her little sister...and at the same time making an effort to keep her upright! 

And Miriam seems to be oblivious to her big sister's heroic achievement!

Wouldn't it be awesome if we, as believers, made the same effort to "hold" our brothers and sisters in Christ? They may need someone to help keep them upright while walking a rough road. They may be struggling with a heavy load. They may need a shoulder to cry on.  And God may ask us to do this for Him. "Carry each others' burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."  (Galatians 6:2)

If you happen to be the stronger one, put your arms and heart around your fellow believer and lift him up. Don't worry, you won't have to do it alone...because the strength you'll need comes from the One who said, "Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke * upon you and learn from Me...and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew  11: 28-30)

Asa, an Israelite king, faced with a vast enemy army, would plead, "Help us, O Lord, for we rely on You..."  (II Chronicles 14:11)  Rely on Him to help you stand firm...and rely on Him for the strength and wisdom to help others stand firm.

When Jesus said, "learn from Me", He had every reason to use Himself as an example.  Isaiah wrote, "Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows...and He will bear their iniquities...For He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors." (53: 4, 11,12)

It's true that sometimes the person we want to help will appear oblivious to our "heroic efforts" on his behalf!  But that happened to Jesus, too...and it sure didn't stop Him!
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*This is my favorite way of imagining the yoke Jesus urges us to accept.  There are places for two...one beside the other...pulling together!  When I put myself into the one side, Jesus takes up His place on the other side.  And this is what makes His yoke easy and His burden light...the fact that He pulls with me, willing to take on Himself the brunt of the effort.  I don't have to pull alone. (And if I did, I'd never make it!)
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May God help us all to be attentive to the needs of those around us.  He may point us in the direction of  someone who needs to be "held", encouraged and lifted up.