I looked with envy at others

whose crosses seemed lighter than mine

And wished that I could change my cross

for one of a lighter design -

And then, in a dream, I beheld the cross

I impulsively wanted to wear,

It was fashioned of pearls and diamonds

and gems that were precious and rare.

And when I hung it around my neck

the weight of the jewels and the gold

Was much too heavy and cumbersome

for my small, slender neck to hold -

So I tossed it aside and before my eyes

Was a cross of rose-red flowers

And I said with delight as I put it on,

"this cross I can wear for hours" -

For it was dainty and fragile,

So lovely and light and thin,

But I had forgotten about the thorns

that started to pierce my skin -

And then in my dream I saw my "cross,"

rugged and old and plain,

That clumsy old cross I had looked upon

with discontented disdain -

And at last I knew that God had made

what I before could not see,

That often the loveliest crosses

are the heaviest crosses to bear,

For only God is wise enough

to choose the cross we can wear -

So never complain about YOUR CROSS,

for your cross has been blest,

God made it JUST FOR YOU to wear

And remember, GOD KNOWS BEST!

- Helen Steiner Rice

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