When we get around behind Jesus, we learn not to be in the way, but on the way, and Christ's way is that of a servant. It is the way of serving by compassion, mercy, forgiveness and love. They are the cradle, the cross and the crown. Celebrating two of those fills most churches, but people tend to avoid the third. We are especially averse to Jesus' suggestion that we take up our own crosses to follow Him.
People often speak of burdens and sufferings as crosses to bear.
I suppose there is nothing wrong with that. It is an apt illustration, but disease and disaster are not what Jesus was talking about. He was talking about the difficulties and sufferings that come our way because we are follow Him. In the epistle, Paul would suggest that we shut up and get to work. Jesus' cross was not thrust on Him by the Jewish authorities, Pilate, or some Roman soldier.