On Friday, May 11, my daughter and I are hosting a party for a group of homeschooling gals. We are having a luscious dessert, games, prizes, lots of great conversation and a brief devotional. Since I'm the oldster my daughter, Aimee, asked me to give the devotional. So I asked her on what subject would she like me to expound? She said, "Something on cross bearing." CROSS BEARING!? I am probably the last person on God's sweet, green earth to be able to expound on diligent cross bearing. I have whined, grumbled, pleaded, resisted and bellyached about the crosses in my life. I don't like cross bearing, I don't do it well, and it hurts!

Both Aimee and I have read Ted Dekker's The Martyr's Song. This is where she got the idea because the price of following Christ is clearly and literally portrayed in this Bosnian village after WW II and the village women's trial and the death of Father Michael. It is one of the most painful and thought-provoking books I have ever read. I told you...cross bearing hurts! And yet, truth be told, it is our lot while we travel on this pilgrim journey. We were made for heaven though so cross bearing must have something to do with getting us ready for heaven.

Today is Thursday, tomorrow is the party and I still don't know what to give for the devotional. I'm still thinking, but I'm pretty sure it will have to do with getting fit for heaven