The Changed Cross- from Heather

I was reading in my devotional book "Streams in the Desert" the other day, and I discovered a poem that really ministered to me regarding my questions to God about "Why me?" and "Why do I have to go through this?" The poem is called The Changed Cross and I typed it below.

A weary woman thought that the cross she must bear surely was heavier than those of other people. She wished she could choose another person's instead. When she went to sleep, she dreamed she was taken to a place where there were many different crosses from which to choose. There were various shapes and sizes, but the most beautiful one was covered with jewels and gold. "This I could wear with comfort," she said. So she picked it up, but her weak body staggered beneath its weight. The jewels and gold were beautiful, yet they were much too heavy for her to carry.
The next cross she noticed was quite lovely, with beautiful flowers entwined around its sculptured form. Surely this was the one for her. She lifted it, but beneath the flowers were large thorns that pierced and tore her skin.
Finally she came to a plain cross without jewels or any carvings and with only a few words of love inscribed on it. When she picked it up, it proved to be better than all the rest, and the easiest to carry. And she looked at it, she noticed it was bathed in radiance that fell from heaven. Then she recognized it as her own old cross. She found it once again, and it was the best of all, and the lightest for her.

I am constantly reminded that God is in control of my life and God knows best the cross I need to bear. I may look at other people's life and desire less pain, more joy, children, etc; but God knows that the trials and suffering that I am going through is to shape me and mold me into the person that he wants me to be. And I trust that he will bless me with good as His word states in Romans 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Thank you ALL for your prayers today. We made it through! We are exhausted with all of the emotion, but God was ever present!