Sacrifice. What exactly is that? I have a job. My wife has a job. My kids are healthy. I'm able to write this on a nice laptop with high-speed wireless connection inside a nice home in a quiet sub-division. Do I really know what sacrifice is?
As a family, we sponsor a little girl in Ethiopia. We started sponsoring her in 2008 and she has become a big part of our family even though we haven't even met her. We "sacrifice" our fifty dollars a month to help her and her family. The average family in Ethiopia lives on a little more than seventeen dollars a month.
I'm sure that everyone knows someone that has lost a job, house, or family member recently. I think that I'm sacrificing so much by working fifty hours a week and taking three classes, but I 'm willing to bet that someone who is fighting cancer in a hospital bed right now would gladly trade places with me. So do I really know what sacrifice is?
Sacrifice is giving up something that you like or want to do for the sake of something that is way more important than that you are giving up for that sacrifice. In the end, I think that it is important that we look to Jesus for answers, because he made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jack. We are really blessed and that was the point I wanted to drive home. My "sacrifice" is nothing without Jesus paying the ultimate sacrifice for us.
DeleteSo many people don't realize the world is full of people less fortunate than they are. If you're doing anything at all to help others, you're doing more than most. Bravo, Brad.
ReplyDeleteThanks Doug. My little girl didn't want to eat dinner the other night because she didn't like what we made (even though she has eaten it in the past) so I googled how many people are starving in the world. To my shock it was nearly one BILLION people. We waste so much food in my house it's crazy to think about all the people without and we fill a trash can with scraps.
DeleteI am glad to know that there are still good people in this world. There are countless people who focus on themselves and care about no one else. Keep giving back Brad!
ReplyDeleteThat is so true. A close family friend is suffering from cancer for the third time. We had dinner together tonight, and I noticed how weak the chemotherapy has made her. I have also been working overtime and taking classes, so this week, I have been moping around thinking about how tired I am. Looking at my friend tonight made me realize how truly blessed I am. Sometimes I need the reminder. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteJust remember someone is always worse off than you. I always tell myself that when I'm complaining about a long day at work or something I don't have, but want. I try to stay positive about my blessings.
ReplyDeleteMost people define "sacrifice" as begrudgingly doing something they don't want to do. I like the idea of "sacrifice" meaning doing something that's difficult, but necessary, without complaint! Just do it and don't whine about it!
ReplyDeleteK. Smith
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