The mother of a newborn child with

Shadowed and heavy eyes

Struggles to do the next thing.

The soldier on his third tour with

Gear and pack and weapons

Gets up from his foxhole one more time.

The husband of a cancer-ridden wife with

Small child needing his love

Sits and weeps for lack of strength.

The Christ carrying the cross with

Sins of the world on His back

Stops and looks into their eyes.

They are tired.

He carries them all.

art credits: French Troops Cross a Frozen River by Charles Rochussen; Mortar Men photo by Ustinov; cross photo by Asta Rastauskiene; Three Crosses sketch by Rembrandt; bird photo by SP Veres