The truth is that the illness, afflictions and tribulations of Christians bring about
the cleansing of their soul and the forgiveness of their sins.
Every Christian has the sacred obligation to accept with a guileless and simple
heart whatever kind of cross God has placed upon him and to carry it up to
glorious Golgotha.
Sometimes he may fall to his knees under the toil and burden, but God will send
another good Simon of Cyrene that is, the grace of patience, who will lift the cross
to Golgotha.
When we visit a cemetery, we see a cross on every grave, some wooden, others stone,
others iron, etc. Likewise, God gives a cross to every Christian soul.
To one He gives an iron cross, to another a wooden cross, to another a stone cross.
Each person is given one as the wisom of God deems best.
The main purpose of the Lord is to save our precious soul, regardless of whether or not
it suffers in the process. He Himself provides us with the patience and enlightenment
to be able to bear the cross to the end.
Counsels from the Holy Mountain on Illness pg 35
Elder Ephraim
