At the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Take this cup of suffering away from me" (Mark 14:36). "Cup" refers to the suffering he was about to endure. All of us have, or will have, cups to bear. In fact, anytime we step into relationships, we risk bearing a cup of pain. Love not only risks pain but also leads to it. (Mark 14).