Devotionals for the Heart: Sacrifices

Sacrifices
A devotional by Sara L. Foust

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." 

—John 15:13 (KJV)

I would never, ever, in a million years feel comfortable comparing a person to Jesus and to the penultimate sacrifice He made for each of us. What He did cannot even be measured in comparison to anything a mortal, “normal” human being has done or will do.

We just celebrated the 4th of July, one of my favorite holidays. As a kid growing up in East Tennessee, our Fourth consisted of going to Norris for their annual celebration, including carnival style games and a dunking booth, bake sales, a blinged-out bicycle parade, and just-after-sunset fireworks. As dusk settled down, us kids would circle up with a soft disc and play killer Frisbee (it sounds worse than it is, if you’ve never heard of it before). Then we’d run back to our blanket, stretch out, and wait for the magic. To this day, fireworks are one of my favorite things. Of course, I now have two little ones who are petrified by both the sound and the sight of them and that hinders my ability to enjoy them a bit (okay, a lot). But someday they will grow up and things will gravitate into more of the wonder than the fear.

I am a Southern, All-American girl. My daddy served in the Army in the Vietnam War. Growing up, I was reminded of his sacrifice often. Not by him. No. He was too humble to accept any kind of gratitude or attention. But it was an important part of him and something I felt proud of. There were so many men, men he knew well, who didn’t make it home to their families. I sometimes marveled at the fact that if he’d died in that war, I wouldn’t have a mind to be able to wonder at it, or at anything at all. And thanked God that He saw fit to bring my daddy home.

There are still men and women who bravely step into military positions, volunteering not only their times but their lives themselves. Men and women who don’t make it home. And those who do. None of them walk away the same, unchanged, unaltered. God made some of us extra-special, with the heart to serve our country and put their lives on the line every day. I think He gave them a little something different than us laypeople. And I’m thankful that they love me enough to protect my country, even though they do not know me.

While I know most of them are too humble to accept praise, it is important that you and I never fail to recognize their sacrifices. Not just a couple times a year when a holiday reminds us to do so, but every single day. We can do this by remembering them in our prayers, supporting charities that support them, and smiling their direction and saying thank you when we have the privilege of meeting a veteran or active-duty service-person. And as we perform this simple act, let’s make sure we turn our eyes heavenward and thank the ultimate giver for his sacrifice too. Every day. Every hour. Every prayer.

~*~
Author Bio:

Sara writes Inspirational Romantic Suspense from a mini-farm in East Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and their five homeschooled children. 

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Tennessee Mountain Writers.

Her debut novel Callum's Compass won second place in Deep River Books' 2017 Writer's Contest. She also has a story, “Leap of Faith,” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. Sara finds inspiration in her faith, her family, and the beauty of nature.

When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading, camping, and spending time outdoors with her family. To learn more about her and her work or to become a part of her email friend’s group, please visit www.saralfoust.com.