The Word of God –Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24

I admire people, who in the face of adversity, bear their crosses with dignity and grace. They literally take Jesus at His word that He will always be with them and give them the strength to deal with every circumstance that may arise.

I have a cross collection on the wall, which is the first thing you see when you enter our home. Some were bought for decorative purposes, and others were gifts. I especially cherish the three crosses from our daughter. The “Amazing Grace” and “Corinthians 13” crosses were birthday and Mother’s Day gifts. They are a constant reminder of how strong her faith is despite going through a painful divorce two years ago. The hand-carved “Jesus” cross was an anniversary gift from her and a friend. Her friend was a non-practicing Jew and recently accepted Jesus as his personal Savior and attends worship services faithfully with our daughter.

My favorite old hymn is “The Old Rugged Cross”. It is a timeless reminder of the great price Jesus paid on the cross of Calvary for my salvation and yours.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, may your Son’s death on the cross never be in vain, and may we always carry our crosses patiently and look for ways to joyfully bear another’s burden. Amen.

-Lois Tollefson