Are you from Cyrene?

There are times in our lives when we have such a huge cross to bear that we don't think we can go on.  Sometimes in life that struggle is work related, sometimes it is with your significant other, sometimes it is with an illness, or bills that pile up.  I battle this on a daily basis with myself and even with those I love.  It is one thing to have your own cross.  I get that. I am a man, father, etc. I am supposed to have my cross.  Even when my cross seems to much, I know I cant throw it down because I have mouths to feed and lights to keep on.  So when things get difficult, you swallow your pride and keep your mouth shut because as Mel Gibson said in The Patriot  "I am a parent, I havent got the luxury of principles."  We all have to find our outlets that essentially help us carry those crosses.  Sometime we turn to things that destroy us, like booze, women, or drugs.  None of those things will carry the cross for us, in fact they often contribute to making our cross heavier.  So we find our outlets, hopefully healthy outlets.  I had a bad day yesterday, and as I sat on my back porch and watch a dog chew on a stick, two girls playing in the yard, one seeing things for her first time, and my pregnant wife planting tulips for the spring, I realized that is my "Simon."  I am not talking about a self righteous English dude from American Idol, I am talking about  Simon from Cyrene, the person taken from the crowd to help Jesus carry his cross.  After the torture Jesus had endured, he could no longer carry his cross- it was Simon who took on that burden.

So I have my outlet, that which helps me forget the bad day and keep things in perspective.  What I am struggling with though is when I see loved ones with their crosses and there isn't much I can do about it.  I may never know why life has played out the way it has but I cant help but be angry when I see people I care so much for struggling to make it through the day.  This isn't some Extreme Makeover:Home Edition story, these are people you know and love.  So I guess I am asking for help- how do you deal with those crosses when they are on someone else?  I want to help be their "Simon" but I am not sure there is much I can do.