Small sacrifices that touch me

Christians see Jesus Christ’s death as the ultimate sacrifice, leading to forgiveness and redemption. When I look on Christ’s crucifixion, it’s so big, so immense. It’s hard for me to get my hands around.

Yet, I understand it better when I stop and notice the sacrifices all around me. Oh, these sacrifices are smaller, nothing like Jesus getting up on the cross for our sins, but they’re meaningful to me.

Here’s some of the small sacrifices I’ve noticed just this week:

—My partner in crime. My wife was tired the other night. She could’ve stayed warm under the covers at home. When she saw how rainy and foggy it was though, she opted to ride shotgun and go with me to pick up our daughter, who had gotten a ride into town. I didn’t have to drive all that far, just an hour away, but it was still nice to have some company.

—My very own IT guru. A friend was tired from not getting enough rest. He stayed on the line though to help me with a work issue. I mentioned that we could talk later. He kept at it until we figured out where I was messing up within a piece of software. I appreciated his time and generosity. For five minutes, I had my very own Steve Jobs helping me with all the IT problems I was having.

—My personal assistant. When I went to a convenience store, the cashier accidentally dropped my soda to the floor. Rather than sending me back to get another one or worse, continuing to ring me up without a second thought, she ran to the refrigerator to replace the soda. Oh, you can argue and say it wasn’t a sacrifice, but she still went out of her way. I appreciated the caring and the kindness.

—My anger-management therapist. When my wife and I got into an argument recently, she responded to my grumpiness with peace and calm and grace. Oh, she was upset too. But she recognized that I was worried about an important meeting. She gave me the room I needed. Later when everything was calmer, we both apologized and laughed about the fight.

Oh, these are not miracles like Jesus — dying for our sins and then three days later walking out of his tomb — but they’re still meaningful. I suspect we can all think about someone who has gone out of their way for us.

Who has been there for you?