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READ: PROVERBS 19:11; 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-5; PHILIPPIANS 2:1-13\n\n\n\nFrigid air made my eyes water as I pulled my cloak tighter around me. I watched my breath come out in little puffs of white, an ode to the snow that most certainly lingered on the horizon. Night would soon be upon me, and I needed to make camp and a fire, but my cloak called to me.\n\n\n\nOpening the folds of my leather cloak, I pulled out one of the gems from one of the many pockets: an egg-sized ruby. Shimmering in its crimson depths was a tale from my past, this one not fifty days old. \u201cWe are sorry, but you\u2019re just not who we need.\u201d My fingers gripped the ruby harder as the memory washed over me. \u201cThis other warrior is more qualified to complete the task\u2026\u201d My cheeks burned with shame and anger as I placed the gem back in its pocket.\n\n\n\nAs the sun broke over the mountains, I stretched my stiff back. I had lost more time than I thought caught up in reminiscing over that ruby, so when I finally fell asleep, my bedding of hard ground had to suffice. Tonight I would take the time to craft an appropriate bed. My stomach protested in hunger, reminding me that I needed sustenance for the journey ahead.\n\n\n\nBut, the cloak called to me. Deep in a pocket near my heart, I reached for an emerald as large as my fist. The glistening green of the gem blurred as tears clouded my vision. I watched a scene I knew well despite the years that had passed. \u201cThe way you handled that was wrong\u2026I can\u2019t believe how much time I\u2019ve wasted being with you.\u201d This memory hurt more than others, for the person speaking was dear to my heart. Hours passed of reliving the hurt before I remembered I must continue my journey.\n\n\n\nAt midday, I could feel my steps growing heavier, my energy waning. How would I ever make it to my destination? Suddenly, there was a brilliant flash of light\u2014and a man materialized beside me. Stunned into silence, I gaped at Him while He smiled at me. This smile was the most genuine, kind smile I had ever seen. He spoke no words but simply placed a warm hand on my shoulder.\n\n\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t make the journey; it\u2019s too much for me.\u201d I don\u2019t know why I shared this, but something in me told me I could place my trust in Him. He gestured to my cloak, and I noticed deep scars on His hands. \u201cThis cloak? Oh, I need it.\u201d He looked straight into my eyes, and I saw the depth of His love for me.\n\n\n\nHe held out His scarred hands and waited. Somehow I knew, without Him saying a word, that He would wait all day, all my life even. I knew that He would be here whenever I was ready. I pulled my cloak tighter around me and attempted another step, staggering under the weight.\n\n\n\nTears shone in His eyes, brighter than any gem. In His eyes, I saw my past, present, and future. I saw every mistake I had ever made and how I broke His heart time and again. In spite of all the times I had offended Him, I saw the end result: He died for me. Those nail scars on His hands were because of me.\n\n\n\nWeeping, I fell to my knees and handed Him the heavy cloak. If He loves me enough to give His life for me and forgive all my offenses, the least I could do was give Him my life. \u201cI don\u2019t have much,\u201d I whispered, \u201cbut I choose to give You my cloak of offenses. Help me fix my eyes on Your love instead.\u201d\n\n\n\nHe pulled me to my feet and kept my hand in His. Together, we took a step. The air was still cold without my cloak, but His presence kept me warm. I was finally free. \u2022 Savannah Coleman\xa0\n\n\n\n\u2022 Many things can burden us. Our own sin can weigh us down and make moving forward seem impossible. We may feel like we don\u2019t deserve the freedom and forgiveness Jesus offers. However, our perfect and humble Jesus loves us so much that He took our sin upon Himself when He died on the cros...