Sacrifice

I remember exactly where I was (sick in bed with my first pregnancy) sixteen years ago when news of the first tower's collapse spread. Most people do. So many men and women sacrificed their time, energy, and even their lives rescuing survivors that day and in the following days. We remember such a horrendous day in detail and take the time to be thankful for the sacrifice of others. As we should. Heroes deserve to be remembered and honored.

What about the heroes who sacrifice every day?

Police officers sacrifice their lives to keep citizens safe. Firefighters sacrifice their lives to rescue others from danger. Doctors sacrifice their sleep to patch up the wounded and sick. Counselors sacrifice their sanity to guide others to sanity. Teachers and professors sacrifice their energy to educate their students. Farmers sacrifice their time and energy to feed the country. City, county, state, and federal employees sacrifice to serve, judge, and govern their constituents. (Do all of these heroes strive to do the best in their area of service? Maybe not, but plenty of them serve wholeheartedly to the best of their ability.)

Parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles sacrifice their everything--time, energy, sanity--to raise up the next generation. They serve in ways that will never be acknowledged, let alone applauded.

On this day when we remember the sacrifice of so many heroes who stepped up that day, let's not neglect to honor the Greatest Hero. Jesus sacrificed his life not only to keep us safe, rescue us from danger, patch up the wounded and sick, guide others to sanity, educate, and raise up; He sacrificed his life so that we can have life, eternal and abundant.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 (NLT)

May we acknowledge and applaud the everyday heroes living among us. May we honor and praise our God, who offered His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Worthy is our Ultimate Hero!