A story is told of a preacher who held a meeting in the southwest.
At one point in his sermon, the old minister spoke of Simon of Cyrene and asked the audience to determine in their own hearts their reaction to that scene.
Just then a young boy came walking up the aisle, with serious determination in his eyes. The preacher stopped speaking and the congregation was as quiet as death.
“You asked what I would have done if I had been in the crowd when Jesus fell under the weight of His cross.” He looked earnestly up at the preacher. “Sir, I would have helped Him carry it.” He was a Mexican boy around nine years old. His father was a miner and his mother was an outcast.
The minister lifted his arm and cried: “Yes, and if you had helped him to carry his cross, the cruel Roman soldiers would have beaten down across your back with their whips until the blood ran down to your heels.” He never flinched. Meeting the preacher’s look with one of cool courage, he replied through clenched teeth? “I don’t care. I would have helped Him carry it just the same.” Two weeks later, at the close of the service, the old preacher stood at the door, greeting people as they left. When the little boy, Pedro, came by he patted him affectionately on the back. Pedro pulled away with a little cry. “Please don’t do that. My back is sore.” The preacher stood astonished; he had barely touched his shoulders. He took him to a room and removed his shirt. Crisscrossed from his neck to his waist were ugly bloody welts. “Who did that?” the preacher cried in anger. “Mother did it. She whipped me because I came to church.”
Luke 14:27 “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”
2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
1 Timothy 4:10 “For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.”
1 Peter 3:14-17 “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing than for evil doing.”
There is no questioning if we will suffer, for the Word of God is clear, that in bearing our cross we will suffer, but it also tells us be not afraid and neither be troubled. We trust in a living God that will take care of his people.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed: we are perplexed, but not in despair: Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed:”
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Yet, we question why we suffer. The Word of God answers this question. We suffer that others might be able to find Salvation through how we live with our suffering.
2 Corinthians 4:10 “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”
2 Timothy 2:10 “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
Let everyone ask themselves the same question every day. Am I willing to suffer for the cause of Christ? If I am then I must remember the words of Christ.
2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (Author Unknown)

Oh, My God, here we are being torn apart by what he said/she said....can't we take our eyes off of ourselves and each other and put them on you? Can't we do as this little boy did, serve you no matter what?
Oh mighty God, forgive me and help me to look through your eyes instead of my own and everyone elses.