True Sacrifice...

What does it mean to sacrifice?

God sacrificed His Son and Jesus sacrificed His life for you and I...

There a person dear to my heart who knows what it is truly sacrifice it all...

She is my mom.

When my brother was 6 and my sister was 17 months, my mom had my twin and I. She wasn't supposed to come home after my twin and I were born due to being anemic, but thinking that she was going to have help, she came home anyways. She had NO help and took care of us children.

Growing up, my dad believed that a woman stays home and takes care of the kids and home while the husband goes to work. However, this was easier said than done.

My mom gave up her job, new clothes, getting her hair done, a new car, going out with her friends, having a "date" night with my dad and so much more...just to be our mom...my mom.

She NEVER had help...

She NEVER complained...

She never complained about my dad working too much or being home with us children 24/7 or not getting gifts for all "special" occasions because they had four of us in private schools and "gifts"weren't in their budget.

Our house was always cleaned, we had a homemade dinner every night, she helped us with homework, she went to EVERY extra curricular activity we were involved with, our hair was always done, we always looked our best...she always looked her best...and we were always in church. God gave her this amazing gift to play the piano. She not only did her "job" at home, but she played the piano at church, led many choirs and graduated college and did it all without complaining.

I remember when one of our cats hurt her hand really bad and she ended up not being able to use it, but she somehow managed to get all of our hair done, her hair done, our clothes on, the dinner done, the house cleaned and so much more...

She was always busy, but made time praying for each one of us kids, her friends, her family, her marriage and her husband. She spent time in the Word everyday...

Through it all, she became the woman, wife and mom that God wanted her to be. She was a "true" example of what Christ wants us to be. She sacrificed it all without a complaining heart or spirit... She still never complains about anything...

There are missionary women and pastor's wives who have given up a "good" life to support the gift that God has given to their husband. There are missionary women who have given up the mission field to take in their family members because of a tragic death in the family. There are women who HAVE to work and give up being at home with their children...and every single one if these women NEVER complain about having to sacrifice it all for their families.

I don't know if it is our generation, but we really don't know what it is to sacrifice without complaining. Every time things don't seem to be fair, just remember how much our parents sacrificed for us...just remember how much God sacrificed for us.

God is constantly showing me to sacrifice without complaining, to be content in His will, and to be an example of Him...

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Ephesians 5:1-2