The Quiet Power of Sacrifice

While sacrifice is often portrayed as something grand, I believe it doesn’t have to be. I’ve come to see it as a quieter concept, rooted in the small, everyday choices we make for those we love.

For me, it’s about finding ways to bring a little more joy to my husband (pictured) and son, to my family and friends—even if it means putting my own desires aside from time to time. There’s an unexpected sense of fulfillment in these small acts, whether it’s letting them spend a lazy day watching football or adjusting my own plans to be present when they need me most.

Examples of Sacrificial Love

I grew up witnessing this sacrificial love in my own mother, who has always been there whenever I needed her. Her willingness to help and to be present at a moment’s notice has left a permanent mark on me. It makes me feel so valued and cared for, knowing I could count on her for anything—a reassurance I could easily take for granted. Watching her has made me realize that the sacrifices we make are, in many ways, love translated into action.

My husband, who served our country for 23 years, embodies sacrifice in ways both big and small. His dedication didn’t end with his military career; he lives it daily, choosing family over prestigious opportunities, like when he turned down an Ivy League education for a local one so he could be present with his family.

Even while living two states away, he took on major projects like remodeling his parents’ home, traveling back and forth just to make sure they were comfortable. Then there are the small moments, like starting the coffee for me each morning. These choices, both monumental and every day, show me what it means to live with purpose and prioritize the needs of others. Watching him has taught me that true sacrifice is woven into life’s rhythm, a quiet but unwavering commitment to love and serve.

Jesus’ Words on Service

When I think about sacrifice in this way, I’m reminded of how often Jesus spoke about serving others. His words, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13, ESV), sums up the profound connection between love and sacrifice.

In Matthew 20:28, He says, “Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Here, Jesus illustrates that true love is rooted in humility and self-sacrifice. He teaches us that when we choose to care for others—even in the smallest ways—we engage in something divine.

I think as we age, our understanding of this truth deepens, allowing us to appreciate the richness of serving others even more.

What is Sacrifice?

Sacrifice doesn’t mean denying ourselves everything; it’s simply a shift in perspective. As I grow older, I find joy lies not only in doing the things I love but also in doing things that bring others happiness. There’s a certain fullness in my heart when I see my family smile because of something I did for them. There’s a quiet thrill in knowing that, for just a moment, I made their day a little easier, a little brighter.

I’m discovering that aging doesn’t diminish us; instead, it gives us the gift of a clearer perspective. Life feels more abundant, more real, when we focus less on ourselves and more on making the world around us a better place for those we love.

This Veterans Day, as we remember the sacrifices of those who served, I’m also reflecting on these daily, often unnoticed acts of love. It’s the collective weight of these moments that makes life feel abundant and real, filling our hearts with the quiet satisfaction of knowing we’ve made someone else’s journey a little easier. Here’s to living fully by choosing others over ourselves.

 

For Reflection (either individually or with a group)

Read the blog. Read it a second time, maybe reading it aloud or asking someone else to read it aloud so you can hear it with different intonation and emphases. Invite the Divine to open your heart to allow the light of new understanding to pierce the shadows of embedded assumptions, stereotypes, and ways of thinking so that you may live more abundantly. Then spend some time with the following questions together with anything or anyone who helps you reflect more deeply.

 

• Do you have someone in your life who embodies the quiet power of sacrifice? How do they do that?
• As you have grown older, has your perspective on serving others changed in any way? Why do you think that is?
• Do you agree with the author that “Life feels more abundant, more real, when we focus less on ourselves and more on making the world around us a better place for those we love.”? Why of why not?

 

Download a pdf including the Reflection Questions to share and discuss with friends, family, or members of your faith community small group.