Dolly Mink: Years of experience in Christian leadership and service have given Dolly Mink a unique perspective, and she is eager to share her observations, insights, and words of encouragement to the women of Virginia. Dolly seeks to accomplish this through teaching, training, and writing. In addition to her role with the SBCV, she leads women’s Bible study at River Oak Church in Chesapeake, where she and her husband are members, and she writes short stories and blogs at 
I love to travel. The thrill of seeing new places, revisiting old favorites, and experiencing life outside of my familiar surroundings has always been a part of who I am. That’s why I am so thankful that the job I have requires me to travel to regions all over Virginia, as well as traveling to other cities to represent Virginia’s Women’s Ministry Team. That being said, the last trip of 2025 was hard. I was pretty much dragging across this finish line, sisters.
By the time I had my laptop, Bible, notetaking materials, and personal belongings in my backpack, I was basically carrying a small office on my back through Norfolk, Atlanta (and can you ever go through ATL without using the plane train?) and Jacksonville, FL’s airports. Hoisting that thing up and over my shoulder exactly 1497 (exaggeration!) times just about took me out.
No wonder that I had to sit out the Holly Jolly Trolley ride with the other state leaders: anti-inflammatories and my ice bag were calling!
Thankfully, my colleagues were super understanding, and they urged me to take care of myself. They could see that the load I was carrying was, indeed, heavy, and that I needed relief.
I had time to contemplate their sympathy and kindness, and the Lord led me to see this as more than just a group of women who saw me in pain. They understood my pain. They recognized it and felt not just sympathy, but empathy. Sympathy is when you are concerned for someone, and we all should be concerned for each other; empathy occurs when we share someone’s feelings almost as if they were our own. Putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes and walking alongside them.
In Matthew 6:35-36, Jesus, having seen the crowds so “distressed and dejected,” had that kind of empathetic compassion for them. Being fully God and fully man, Jesus was able to feel the feelings we still feel today. This way, we see His concern and get a sense of urgency on our part to minister to all who are hurting and feeling isolated.
We don’t know what kind of load the women we minister to are carrying. Women often hide the biggest pain and burdens of life, misapplying being “clothed in strength and dignity.” (Proverbs 31:25 CSB) Sometimes they’re afraid of being judged. The stresses of social media and the unreasonable expectations placed on women have made being vulnerable almost unacceptable. Some women hide the painful issues of life because they don’t want to confront them. They’d rather carry the pain than bring it into light and then have to deal with it. “Best to ignore it,” whispers the enemy.
Sadly, many women carry the burden of current or past abuse, for fear of more brutality, either by a partner or the embarrassing and painful reality of what going forward will bring. Better to bury the pain in stoic silence than face being attacked again in the courtroom.
We put on our makeup and our smiles and swing that heavy bag on our backs every day, pretending that it’s not really doing any damage. But it is.
The question is, what will I do about it? I took advantage of an after-Christmas sale and bought myself a rolling bag that fits under an airplane or train seat. I am attempting to go online with my notetaking, and am even looking at an online planner. (I’m gonna miss my doodles) The one thing I want to improve on the most is making sure I lay down this heavy load. Stop carrying so much around. In the song, “Dear Younger Me,” by Mercy Me, Bart Millard sings, “Dear younger me, it’s not your fault. You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross.” May I go into this year recognizing that very truth, that I’m not meant to carry heavy burdens alone, and that my Savior asks me to let Him carry them all.
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 CSB)
