Sacrifice

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:43, 44 NIV)

A Facebook friend shared this unattributed quote:

"Value the people who sacrifice their something for you, because maybe that something was their everything."

Something about that quote grabbed me and I began to think about those who have sacrificed for me... in big ways and small ways.  From my own mother, to mere aquaintances.  That led me to begin thinking about ways in which I make sacrifices for others.  And then I began to think about the word, "sacrifice."

It is sad, but today we think of being merely inconvenienced as a "sacrifice."  Can we really count it a sacrifice to give time or money to a person, church or charity if we aren't taking it from something important in our lives?  Giving from our "extra" is not a sacrifice.  If we won't miss it... if it isn't hard to give up... it isn't really a sacrifice.

Thinking about it in that way, makes me realize how little I truly do sacrifice.  And I remember the times that I have really, truly sacrificed and how amazing it was... how much joy it gave me to do so... that paradox that makes my loss also my deep-down joy.

In baseeball, a sacrifice play occurs when the batter intentionally hits the ball in such a manner as to advance teammates on the bases while the batter is thrown out.  A sacrifice play is a purposeful out for the betterment of the team.  In our lives, when we sacrifice, our loss should make the world at least a tiny bit better - a hungry person fed, a hurt person healing, a lost person saved.

Think about sacrifice today.  How it has been done for you.  How you have done it for others.  How you might do it today.

Father,
You sacrificed the unthinkable for me.  Help me to truly sacrifice for others that this world might be a  little better.  Amen.