Sacrifice

Jena Hughes
Mrs. Boresen
Expository Writing, P.4
Definition Essay
24 March 2011

Sacrifice

Everyone has a word(s) that define their life and who they are, nevertheless, the word sacrifice defines who I am and how I apply it to my life. Initially, what does it mean to sacrifice? According to the World English Dictionary, the noun meaning of sacrifice is the surrender of something of value as a means of gaining something more desirable or of preventing some evil. Additionally, the verb meaning of sacrifice according to Dictionary.com is to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else. In my opinion, sacrifice is the act in which something is relinquished for the sake of something of a greater value or significance. Imagine competing in the Iron Man triathlon; 4 km swimming, 180 km biking, and 42 km running. Now imagine attempting that while pulling a 150 pound person, carrying a 150 pound person, and pushing a 150 pound person despite living with a heart disease, that’s sacrifice. “Sacrificing your happiness for the happiness of the one you love, is by far, the truest type of love” ~Author Unknown (ThinkExist.com).

Sacrifice, a word that many don’t understand or appreciate when it is put into action. Those who sacrifice most of the time don’t recognize the extent or enormity of their sacrifice. Since the very beginning, humans have sacrificed. Most times to earn respect or acknowledgement of their god(s). The ancient Aztec civilizations had recurring sacrificial ceremonies to show homage to their deity. The most well known sacrifice of the human race was Jesus Christ. Not only was it a sacrifice for Jesus, it was a sacrifice of his father. Modern day sacrifice is not as substantial as it was in the Aztec civilization or the crucifixion of Jesus. While looking closely at people today in America, daily sacrifices are seen. An instance of this is a mother devoting her night of restful sleep to comfort her upset child. A mother and father working staggering shifts so their children don’t have to be in daycare. Additionally, I sacrificed my 18th birthday party to celebrate my grandfather’s 80th birthday party. The sacrifices of today could be considered small, but they are every bit as important as the one they are sacrificing for.

Throughout the world and throughout history, many objects have been sacrificed. Animals, food, time, and lives have all been sacrificed. In early civilizations, the blood of a human or animal was sacrificed to honor, or to please their deity. Many individuals have sacrificed food for health reasons as well. Perhaps, the most common sacrifice of today is time. For instance, an individual spends their entire Saturday helping an elderly neighbor clean their yard or spending an evening visiting those individuals who are ill in the hospital; these individuals are sacrificing their time for others. Furthermore, the biblical story of Abraham and his sacrifice of his son was a powerful story of sacrificial love. Abraham was going to obey the command from God and sacrifice his young son Isaac. He loved his son dearly, but he also loved and wanted to obey God. This story of sacrificial love is probably one of the hardest acts of true sacrifice. However, sacrificial love doesn’t always entail death; it can include pain and suffering.

Pain and suffering is exactly what Dick Hoyt, the father of a twenty year old disabled young man, Rick Hoyt experienced when he competed in the Iron Man triathlon. For it was not only physical pain and suffering it was an emotional sacrifice as well. He knew that his son who had asked him to compete in this race with him could not do it himself. For that reason, the father spent many hours training for this event with his son by his side even with an underlying heart disease. He swam 4 km while pulling his son in a raft, he endured 180 km of bicycling with his son strapped to the front of his bike, and he ran 42 km pushing his son. The Hoyt duo finished the race as a team several hours behind the other competitors, but their everlasting strength and love, and the father’s sacrifice allowed them to finish the most grueling race on the planet.

The ultimate question, why do people sacrifice? The father sacrificed his health and time, because of his love for his disabled son. That is a sacrifice of love. Likewise, the story of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrifice of love. Jesus sacrificed his life for the love he had for every person in this world. He gave up his strength, body, and life to obey his father. This therefore, was not only an act of sacrificial love; it was an act of sacrificial obedience. True sacrifice is merely about why they are sacrificing, and it is irrelevant where the sacrifice takes place. With that being said, sacrifice takes place in family homes all over the world. Moreover, sacrifice can be seen on the faces of soldiers in foreign lands. Sometimes the soldiers experience the ultimate sacrifice in these far away places by giving up their own life. Sacrifice takes place anywhere someone is willing to give up something for someone else. The father put his life on hold to train and compete in the Iron Man race for his undeniable love of his son, because he knew his son would never be able to do this race without him.

Understanding the five W’s of sacrifice allows acknowledgment of the depth and significance of the action. Who sacrifices? What is sacrificed? When does someone sacrifice something? Where do these acts of sacrifice take place? Why does someone sacrifice for someone else? Sacrifice in action is truly a selfless act of compassion and love. Sacrifice is love put into action. I sacrifice, because I possess a definite love for that person and it gives me contentment in my life. “He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.”~James Allen (Proverbia.net).


Bibliography
1. "Abraham's Sacrifice of His Son Isaac Bible Story." JesusAnswers.com Christian Web Site. 2006. Web. 01 Mar. 2011 .
2. "Aztec Sacrifice." Aztec History. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. http://www.aztec- history.com/aztec-sacrifice.html.
3. Allen, James. "Self-sacrifice Quotes - Quotations and Famous Quotes on Self-sacrifice." Famous Quotes, Quotations and Proverbs in Proverbia.net. 2009. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. .
4. "Sacrifice Define Sacrifice at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com Free Online Dictionary for English Definitions. Random House, Inc. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. .
5. "Sacrifice." Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. 03 Mar. 2011. .
6. My Redeemer Lives - Team Hoyt - Today's Christian Videos - GodTube. Perf. Dick and Rick Hoyt. Watch Christian Videos - Video Sharing Site - GodTube. 17 Mar. 2008. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. .
7. "Quotes." Find the Famous Quotes You Need, ThinkExist.com Quotations. Web. 03 Mar. 2011. .