By Eunice Aber

We all have our loads to bear, crosses to carry
And though one’s seems greater or lesser
We all feel the weight underneath
Sometimes we compare
But we each can bear; only what we have been given
Sometimes we desire
But we know not the burden; that is hidden behind smiling faces
No cross is lighter, No burden easier
Only what we can bear, is what we have been given
But one fact remains
We each must bear, we all must carry

There are moments of falling
Of going down on one knee
Just to get some rest from the burden
And when we are there, the thought comes easy,
“Hers is easier, she never stops to rest!”
But we know not the burden; that is hidden behind smiling faces
No cross is lighter, No burden easier
Only what we can bear, is what we have been given
But one fact remains
We each must bear, we all must carry

There is a time, when we want to throw it all away
Give up the fight, throw in the towel
When it seems like the sun strikes hottest on our side
Or the moon hides behind the clouds; only from us
And we are tempted to ask,
“Why only me?”
But we know not the burden; that is hidden behind smiling faces
No cross is lighter, No burden easier
Only what we can bear, is what we have been given
But one fact remains
We each must bear, we all must carry

Sometimes we’re tempted to leave altogether
To walk away from the path;
That gives no promise of dawn, no hope of sunrise
Though many heed to the dark voice;
Saying, “Quit! Quit! Quit! There is an easier way out”
Some stick to the path
And these are they;
That enjoy the victory
For on reaching the other side
They are met with smiling faces of mates; who stuck it out
And are treated to stories; much like their own
And soon the realization dawns on them
I knew not the burden; that was hidden behind smiling faces
No cross was lighter, No burden easier
Only what we could bear, was what we were given
And one fact still remains
We each must bear, we all must carry