When our divine Redeemer beheld the Cross, He most willingly reached out to it with His bleeding arms. He embraced it lovingly, kissed it tenderly, took it on His bruised shoulders, and, exhausted as He was, He carried it joyfully.

O my Jesus,  I can not be Thy friend and follower  if I refuse to carry my cross.  O beloved cross,  I embrace Thee,  I kiss Thee,  I joyfully accept Thee from the hand of my God.  Far be it from me to glory in anything  save in the Cross of my Lord and Redeemer.  By it the world shall be crucified to me,  and I to the world,  that I may be Thine forever.