Sacrifice—defined by Oxford Languages as “an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important, or worthy”—is arguably the most valuable concept in life. There is nothing good that you can think of that has not, in one way or another, involved sacrifice.
Sacrifice of one’s money, time, desires, career, reputation—when you stop and really think about it, our lives are so much more enriched by sacrifice. That’s because sacrifice is practically synonymous with love. And that’s true whether the sacrifice is made for us or by us.
Sacrifice of a touchdown, a basket, a goal, a run; sacrifice of winning; or sacrifice of undue attention of fans, are some of the reasons behind great moments in sportsmanship. Other reasons may be at play, for sure, but oftentimes, something is being sacrificed, consciously or subconsciously.
Sacrifice of time (and sometimes money) is one of the reasons why some of our schoolteachers will forever remain so important foundations of our lives. They gave us far more than a tuition’s worth of instruction, correction, guidance—education.
Sacrifice of political office, votes, political scores, fame, prestige, partisanship, reputation, etc., is one of the reasons we consider certain politicians honorable. George Washington, America’s Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, sacrificed, some of his family life, some of his farm life, his health, and, ultimately, his political longevity, to help establish the greatest nation the world has ever known. Yes, he had his ambitions. Yes, he wanted to fight and win; to lead and to serve; to blaze a trail and to set an example. But all of these endeavors required some element of sacrifice.
Sacrifice of just about everything is one of the reasons why many of us love and honor our parents. Yes the first hour of playtime with them was just as enjoyable for them as it was for us. The next hour was tolerable for them. The third hour was pure sacrifice. Where would we be without loving parents whose love, attention and provision often required boundless sacrifice?
The so-called Abraham in religions—Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baháʼí Faith—are named for a patriarch perhaps best known for sacrifice. More precisely, this group of some 3.8 billion people is named for a patriarch perhaps best known for his willingness to sacrifice. That’s an important distinction: While the good things in life often require sacrifice in some form and on some level, a good life is not all about sacrifice. But a good life is always about a willingness to sacrifice. A willingness to sacrifice when it’s required of you—by your child, by your parent, by your subordinates, by your boss, and by circumstances. A willingness to sacrifice to save a life, to preserve the peace, to impart understanding, to motivate, to inspire, to encourage, and to bring a smile on someone’s face. A willingness to sacrifice the often short-lived humor and attention that a crude joke or an insulting nickname may elicit. A willingness to sacrifice personal reputation for the sake of integrity and truth. A willingness to sacrifice partisanship, for the sake of principle. A willingness to sacrifice political points for the sake of honor (in the form of congratulating an adversary/opponent, for example). A willingness to sacrifice time and money to help the needy.
No matter how big or small, sacrifice is revolutionary. Its value is infinite.
The world needs your sacrifice—and your willingness to sacrifice.
Virtually every good thing in life has involved sacrifice, one way or another.
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