The Cross

I had the good fortune to attend a rosary prayer group last night. I attend once each month at a gathering held at a group member's house. There are always plenty of great people and several children running around. The children help liven up the atmosphere and make it a little entertaining, even if they can be slightly distracting.

Last night I was highly enjoying watching several of the children run around for the first decade or two. They were bringing a real smile to my face. A smile that I could feel transforming my insides and making my soul smile. As I looked on their playing I couldn't help but wish for my own child to have and to hold (yes, guys wish to have children as well). Of course, before I can have a child I must accomplish a few other steps first.

After a while of this watching, and wishing, I realized that I was not paying much attention to actually entering a prayerful state. It was at this time I decided to turn my attention to the crucifix located on the wall above my head. It was the best decision of the night.


When I looked upon the crucifix with a desire to speak to Jesus, the words in Matthew came to me: "Pick up your cross and follow me." It hit me in a way that was immediate and very real. I needed to accept the issues I was struggling with in my own life because they were crosses, crosses meant for me to handle.


I needed to recognize these crosses, pick them up, and follow Jesus. Moreover, it is ok to recognize my weakness and ask for help with these struggles. Like Simon did for Christ, Christ will help us carry our own crosses if we but ask.

No matter how difficult our crosses seem, they are not meant to destroy us, but to help us grow in our faith and our relationships with God and each other. With each cross we will grow. Remember, Jesus is not asking us to die on a cross for him. No, our own cross will be much easier and Jesus is there to help us with it. Also, unlike Jesus, we can ask our friends and family members to help us with our crosses. They can shoulder a little of the load; not carry it, because each of us have our own cross, but help us with it.

In the end, the final question is based on whether we truly believe that Jesus defeated the cross: Is He more powerful than the cross? If so, with His help, we can defeat each of our crosses as well.

Bear it with pride.