Have you noticed how much we appreciate the sunshine when it comes out after a heavy downpour?

The world seems to be a little brighter and warmer and we welcome the return of the sun.

We might consider daily life in a similar way. Our human natures crave perfection, without the darkness of daily problems. Of course, that is not very realistic because life on earth will never be perfect, just like we cannot expect the sun to shine every single day.

With faith, we tackle the difficult days and rejoice when a very good one comes along. As believers we look forward to spending eternity in the bliss of goodness, love and the joy of heaven with Our Lord and His Mother.

We all have crosses and when we look at Our Lord on His Cross, our troubles seem so small in comparison. The pain and suffering that He endured for us cannot be imagined.  He gave His life so that we might gain salvation and eternal life.

How do we handle our daily crosses? Jesus promised us that He would help us to carry them if we seek His help. He did not say He would eliminate them from our lives but that with Him, we could survive them.

He provided the friendship of His Mother Mary to assist us, and we can look to the lives of the Saints for inspiration. By showing courage in the trials that come our way, we will live as Jesus expects us to live. Our example of strength in adversity might also plant a seed of hope in someone else’s life as they observe our handling of our difficulties.

Leo was a good friend who owned a Catholic bookshop and every visit there, usually provided a lesson in faith for me. He loved to show others how much the Lord loved them. He became blind and later, lost his legs below the knee from diabetes.

At that time, his wife and he decided that a nursing home would be best for him. But a couple of weekends a month, the Handi Transit bus brought him home to their apartment for a visit.

He trusted so much in God’s providence and when I visited him at the nursing home, the joy reflected in his smile melted my concerns and revealed God’s love.

Seeing how he handled his daily struggles was edifying for me, and taught me to complain less about my minor issues. The love he had for the Lord shone brightly in his eyes, and we were thrilled to attend his 75^th birthday gathering. A few months later, my husband and I attended his funeral.

His example of the acceptance of his daily struggles acted as a beacon of hope for anyone who ever met him. I was a witness to his determination and trust that the Lord was near, and he had abandoned his life to God’s will. The memory of this ‘giant of faith’ still helps me to lift my cross every day. I thank the Lord for giving me such a friend.

Jesus is always anxious to assist us in our daily lives to accept our crosses, use our talents in the service of others and be peaceful that by knowing and loving Him, we will survive whatever obstacles come our way.,