Keeping your own cross

By Ellen Shuck

Do you have more to bear than anyone?

Do you wonder if you can handle what you're going through?

Do you look around and say, "I don't understand why all these things continue happening to me?"

All those questions are asked by people.

A relative, June, suffered numerous physical ailments. It seemed she no sooner recovered from one surgery or illness than she incurred another.

In spite of her many health problems, she always recovered. Then, as if her health problems were not enough, her husband left her for another woman. She and her young child were left alone.

June was bitter for years, but she had no choice except to seek further education in order to provide for her child. She lived with one relative and then another. She continued to work steadily until she finally met a charming man, whom she married.

Another relative, too, suffered extreme sadness. Her husband died young and she lost two adult daughters within a short time. She's now alone except for one sister who lives a distance away, and a granddaughter. One would truly wonder how she can survive such a cross, but she has no choice.

You look around at other people, and their crosses or hardships seem so much lighter than yours. That is, until you stop to compare.

Even though you may not visibly see what's weighing someone down, everyone has a cross to bear. If it isn't illness or the loss of a loved one, it could be undue worry over someone else. You never know what someone is feeling or experiencing.

The season of Lent is upon us, and Lent brings thoughts of the cross to mind. Jesus bore many types of crosses. He carried the cross of abuse before the actual physical carrying of the wooden object. He was heir to beatings, insults, worry, feelings of abandonment, and you name the other atrocities. Then he was forced to carry the heavy piece of wood and be crucified upon it.

Yet, good came from all the suffering. Easter brought insurmountable joy. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, good came to all humankind.

From the darkness, light came, and new life came to all. Easter is the triumph. After the suffering was over, happiness, goodwill and well-being was offered to all.

Anytime you feel like complaining, recall the plight of Jesus, and your attitude will change. No one's suffering can exceed that. Or would you like to exchange crosses with someone else?

There are many kinds of physical crosses made from various materials -- large crosses, small crosses, ugly ones and beautifully sculpted ones. Some are slanted, others straight up and down and a few odd shaped. But those are man-made.

Just as there are physical crosses that vary, the same holds true of crosses fashioned from the blood and guts of men and women. Do you think yours are worse than someone else's? Would you like to trade your suffering for theirs? You may find that, of all those out there, your cross is easiest to bear after all.

Just as the cross of Jesus brought good to the world, you must meditate and see what good is coming from the carrying of your cross. You may not see the results for a while, but it's there. You grow from your experience, and someone else usually benefits as well. Look out your window of dread, sorrow and hopelessness to see the sun shining. It will be there. You have brought the beam of courage and example to someone who needed to learn from your example. Darkness always turns to light. "Weeping may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5).

You can endure anything life has to offer if you remember that no matter how dismal the sky, the sun will always follow. Bear the cross you're given. Another person's is no lighter.