Sacrifice

This week started with Easter Sunday, a day in which we celebrate the SACRIFICE of Jesus dying on the cross so that our sins are forgiven, and so we can all be redeemed.  This day, and family life events this week, had our family discussing this word: sacrifice.  

When you hear this word, is your initial reaction negative or positive?  What are some of the first things you think of?  If you look up the word ‘sacrifice’, there are different definitions depending on where you look. First, there is “an act of slaughtering an animal or person, or surrendering a possession as an offering to God or to a divine or supernatural figure.”  Another one that is more common is “an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.” (Both of these, and several more were provided by our favorite Google search).

As my husband and I described “sacrifice” to our children this week, I realized that we both look at the word in a positive way.  It’s not that we think sacrifices are easy, but we wanted to emphasize to our children that sometimes in this world, we are called to sacrifice something for the greater good of our society.  That’s hard for young kids to grasp, and they shouldn't. Their world view is from their perspective, and they are pretty important in their own little world!  Parenting is such a fine balance-you strive to give your children experiences to prepare them to live on their own in this world, but you also want to shield and protect them from some of what’s in it.

A perfect example is the story of Easter.  My kids know this story well, of course, because we don’t just talk about it every Spring! We try to live it everyday!  However, after doing our “Resurrection Eggs”, which tell the story of Easter, including Jesus being arrested, beaten, and hung on the cross to die a terrible death, our 6 year old daughter had a nightmare. She woke up the next morning scared and crying, saying that she dreamt that our whole family, even her baby brother, died on crosses.  As any good Mom does, I first felt a twinge of guilt that maybe we had overdone it, but alas, I paused, prayed, and asked God to help me out.  I replied, “I am so sorry you had such a bad dream. Aren’t you so happy that Jesus died on the cross for us, so that we don’t have to!”  She smiled and said yes, and we continued talking about the importance of Easter.  Our kids told ME how Jesus could have stopped the soldiers with just a word, or thought, or lightning bolt. They creatively shared tons of ways he could have stopped them, both giggling at some of the more eccentric ones.  And, there it was again-the peace of knowing Jesus and His story.  While I wanted to protect my kids from the awfulness of Jesus’ death, I can’t really explain the SACRIFICE of Easter without it.

I hope today, and everyday, that you turn to God for guidance with what to share with your children about this world, and how to live in it.  I also thank each of you for sacrifices you make for others, for our world to be a better place, and for our Saviour. Parenting is not easy, but He is ALWAYS with you, and waiting to guide you along. He is risen!!

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33