Today's song is 'Sacrifice' that Elton John made a hit in 1989. The writer, Bernie Taupin said in interview, "I think 'Sacrifice' is one of the best songs we've written." The song is not a typical love song, but rather a song about a breakup of a marriage where the loss of the relationship is 'no sacrifice'.
Ever since Christ made the ultimate sacrifice and died on the cross to save mankind, we are each called upon during various stages of our life to make sacrifices, both large and small. My first introduction to the concept of 'sacrifice' was as a growing child in a Catholic household when we were asked to forfeit one of our pleasures during the religious period of Lent. As loving parents, we willingly sacrifice in order to provide for our children, and as marriage partners, we sacrifice all manner of things for the happiness and security of our spouse. As a young man in love with the daughter of prominent and wealthy parents in 1964, while living in Canada, I realised that to have married my love would have been to have imposed too great a change of lifestyle on her. I, therefore, sacrificed my own happiness and unspent love upon a moment of foolish and misguided pride.
It is said that love sacrifices all things to bless the things it loves. Whereas lust is about satisfaction, love is about sacrificing, serving, surrendering, sharing, supporting, and even suffering for others.
This week commemorates the end of 'The First World War' a century ago. That war saw 'true love' in action; love of one's country, love of the freedom we still enjoy, love of an English way of life and love of one's comrade on the field of battle. John 15:13 tells us 'Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.'
I do not ask that you make the ultimate sacrifice of dying that others may live. Instead of laying down one's life for another, I ask that you relinquish one's uncharitable, inconsiderate, selfish and unforgiving ways of life for the ongoing benefit of others and the lasting benefit of ourselves. I ask that you be prepared to offer an open mind and be pure in thought and action to others, to lend a listening ear and give a helping hand. It is these daily sacrifices that best express one's enduring love for others.
Francis of Assisi said, 'Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received, only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage'". Love and peace. Bill xxx
Ever since Christ made the ultimate sacrifice and died on the cross to save mankind, we are each called upon during various stages of our life to make sacrifices, both large and small. My first introduction to the concept of 'sacrifice' was as a growing child in a Catholic household when we were asked to forfeit one of our pleasures during the religious period of Lent. As loving parents, we willingly sacrifice in order to provide for our children, and as marriage partners, we sacrifice all manner of things for the happiness and security of our spouse. As a young man in love with the daughter of prominent and wealthy parents in 1964, while living in Canada, I realised that to have married my love would have been to have imposed too great a change of lifestyle on her. I, therefore, sacrificed my own happiness and unspent love upon a moment of foolish and misguided pride.
It is said that love sacrifices all things to bless the things it loves. Whereas lust is about satisfaction, love is about sacrificing, serving, surrendering, sharing, supporting, and even suffering for others.
This week commemorates the end of 'The First World War' a century ago. That war saw 'true love' in action; love of one's country, love of the freedom we still enjoy, love of an English way of life and love of one's comrade on the field of battle. John 15:13 tells us 'Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.'
I do not ask that you make the ultimate sacrifice of dying that others may live. Instead of laying down one's life for another, I ask that you relinquish one's uncharitable, inconsiderate, selfish and unforgiving ways of life for the ongoing benefit of others and the lasting benefit of ourselves. I ask that you be prepared to offer an open mind and be pure in thought and action to others, to lend a listening ear and give a helping hand. It is these daily sacrifices that best express one's enduring love for others.
Francis of Assisi said, 'Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received, only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage'". Love and peace. Bill xxx
