Promising to pray

once seemed a small gesture--

The least I could do.

Now I know that praying

is shouldering my sister's backpack.

It is filled with heavy things

that will strain my soul.

Together, we will haul

this burden

to the throne

of God Who Heals,

Jehovah-Rapha.

he'll sort through it,

discarding and evaluating

and taking the weight

upon Himself.

We'll leave the holy of holies

weightless and guiltless.

We'll seek more

Pilgrims with bulging backpacks.