My Cross

"Take up your cross... Daily."

The words my very wise Bible Study leader shared with me when I told her we had a foster child.

Her teaching was huge in our decision to even begin this journey. Christ really spoke to me through His Word via her.

Tomorrow is Good Friday. The day my Jesus carried His cross and later that day gave up his life on it, for me. For our friend. For you. 

Tomorrow on Good Friday, I will rise out of bed, put on my pajama pants, my socks, brush my teeth, put in my contacts and grab my cross. 

I will take three kids to school but only two will come home to eat dinner with us.

Matt and I will pray over our friend and then  we watch him leave. 

My heart hurts but that is the burden of the cross and my burden is nothing compared to what Christ did on His that very Good Friday.

The great thing about daily carrying your cross is it changes you. It is heavy so you become strong. It is splintery so you grow in persistence. The splinters serve as a painful reminder. They add to our beauty. 

My whole family has been forever changed by one nine year old boy. 

Everyone says we helped him but in all fairness to what he brought to the table, he helped us. 

We grew. We learned. We listened. We obeyed. We are closer. 

So this weekend, as you don your fancy Easter outfit, fancy jewelry and eat a nice lunch. Don't leave your cross at home. 

Grab it, carry it, let it change you. The pain of following Christ and his calling hurts but oh what a joy it has been. What a celebration it was in Heaven three days later when the stone was rolled away. 

Don't miss out on His goodness, His mercy because you won't carry your cross. 

Surrender your fears, your hesitation, your comfort.

I promise He shows up.