COMPARING THE CROSS

So often, as we go through something which brings us unbearable pain, there is the feeling no one has gone through something as bad as we have. True, there are incidents which I feel are beyond comprehension in the depth of pain, such as the death of a child. But, as others go through personal pain, we are not the ones to judge how heavy the cross is that they carry the burden upon their shoulders. It is easy to judge, but this isn't what God wants of us.

Yes, I have judged, I must admit. But immediately, I do feel God telling me to calm down; He will take care of things. Are my thoughts going to be the ones who changes this person? No, as they are just thoughts. I wouldn't dare go up to that person and say, “You don't know what a REAL problem is...” To this person, it is a real problem. How this person feels is not going to affect what is going on in my own life. If we begin to get angry or upset about it, this takes over, rather than focusing on our own heaviness.

Maybe, just maybe, we can pray to God, asking Him to help those we know in need. I know, it may be as simple as a broken fingernail, which to us is ridiculous. But to a teenager, this is a moment of distraught. Why not turn into this person, acknowledging the problem. The person may feel as if someone really understands the weight of that cross. It won't hurt us to say “I'm sorry.” Only two words!

Praise God, thanking Him for what He does do for each of us. Make known how He has been there, helping us to carry our cross. Pray that He will be there to help others carry their cross. It may appear minor to us, but to another, it is major. Let God decide how to handle it.

As for me, every time I think of my cross being heavy, I think of those passing away before their time. Immediately after this first thought, I think of how Christ suffered on the cross, bringing to my own mind words that I cannot express . Only picturing what He went through brings grimace to my face and pain to my heart.

This may be the same picture people have in their minds as they go through their own suffering. Let us pray to Christ to be there, to help one and all.

Inconveniences vs. Problems

What a day, with all the snow continuing to fall. So many of us are tired of one snowstorm after another. It makes me think of what I often ask myself, “Is it an inconvenience, or is it a problem?” Of course, it is an inconvenience! We are tired of looking out our windows, only seeing white everywhere, rather than the greens of springtime.
I often have to ask myself, “Is it an inconvenience, or is it a problem?” I call anything that is not terminal to my health an inconvenience. Yes, I have likely said this before. Yet, I continue to see others make inconveniences a problem. Just yesterday, I witnessed what was an inconvenience become a major problem. No, it was not going to be terminal to anyone, but I saw a will of the minds. I was asked to intervene. I did the best I could. To think we were in a Church situation, yet there was someone trying to overstep another, rather than thinking of the consequences. I had to silently laugh, over such a minor situation. We need to think how God would like us to respond to something, not putting ourselves above Him. I had to also think of the background of the person wanting to take charge. As always, we need to think of what is beyond the eye of the beholder. There is a way to make everyone feel comfortable, yet get a point across. It is not always easy, yet we need to think of the feelings of one another. It may be an inconvenience to us, but to the other person, it is a problem. Without stepping out of our boundaries, with the help of God, we can come up with a solution. The secret knows God is living within us, of feeling how He would respond to the same problem. He would not want to embarrass anyone. He wants everyone to feel successful, to feel no shame. Is it easy? No, but we only have to listen to God. Let us respond to His wishes, not ours.