Have you ever inherited something that was more of a burden than a joy? I inherited the family rosebush when we bought our house from my husband’s parents. The family traveled by boat from England (we also have their trunk) with a clipping of the family rosebush that had grown there. It was planted in New England, and a clipping made its way to my yard.

I’ve nearly killed it several times. I’m terrified it will die on my watch.

Inheriting things can be a tricky business. Money causes fights. Property must be dealt with. Items get sold. Sure, we all want to discover we have a long-lost relative who has left us everything, but the burden that can come with earthly inheritances isn’t always worth it.

The idea of the Lord himself being our inheritance is no burden. It’s a release from earthly cares in exchange for eternal privileges, from physical belongings in exchange for spiritual blessings. It’s an abundance of heart, soul, mind, and spirit. That’s worth hoping in.