<h2><SPAN name="YOKES" id="YOKES" /><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></SPAN>[64]</span>YOKES</h2>
<p>A Yoke is a help, not a hindrance. Our first thought is that a yoke is
burdensome. A little study reveals to us the great usefulness of the
yoke.</p>
<p>Have you ever seen a yoke of oxen? What heavy, slow-moving creatures
they are! But they are pullers of heavy loads. These loads could not be
drawn by them were they not yoked together.</p>
<p>Now there are different kinds of yokes, that is, there are many ways of
rendering easier the carrying of heavy loads. For example, there is the
Oriental way. First, there is the manner in which one man will carry a
heavy load. He takes a pole, on each end of the pole hangs a rope. Then
he divides his load, fastening half of his load to either rope. He gets
beneath the pole, which is shaped to fit his shoulder, lifts, and off he
trots as easily and jauntily as can be. Sometimes the load is too heavy
for one man. He then summons a companion. They get a longer, heavier
pole, with a much stouter rope.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></SPAN>[65]</span> This time they do not divide the load,
rather they keep it together. They fasten the rope securely about it,
and then tie it about the pole. The men stoop, one at each end of the
heavy pole. They stand up straight, the load is lifted from the ground,
only a few inches perhaps, but enough to clear the ground, then, singing
and laughing, keeping perfect time each with the other, they swing down
the street. It is incredible the heavy loads they carry. I could not
believe my eyes when I looked upon some of them.</p>
<p>Jesus perfectly understood the helpfulness and value of the yoke. He
made it most beautiful in that he told his followers that he would help
them, that he would carry his part of the burden, that he would share
with them the other side of the yoke.</p>
<p>MEMORY VERSE, <i>Matthew</i> 11: 29-30</p>
<div class="blockquot"><p>"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly
in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is
easy and my burden is light."</p>
</div>
<p>MEMORY HYMN [449]</p>
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span><i>"My times are in thy hand."</i><br/></span></div>
</div>
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