Sacrifice

So, I have been thinking about sacrifice. In life we sacrifice a lot of things. Some things are not really a sacrifice, but to us, we could consider it so. Like we may feel like we sacrifice having pizza to not ruin our diet.

One big sacrifice we have as mothers is giving birth to our children. We sacrifice our bodies (oh those lovely stretch marks). We get the closest to dying by giving birth. Then the babies are here and we sacrifice our sleep and time. Because we love our children with every cell in our body, it does not feel like a sacrifice. Well -- I take that back because there are times when those cute little ones are being not so cute and we feel the sacrifice. But underneath all that, we love them and would die for them. Hmmm -- so another sacrifice -- one I hope no one I know ever has to make, and that is if one actually had to choose to die for their child. Not a good pathway of thinking, so changing subject . . . .

Michelle Christensen sacrificed a kidney for her husband Martin. That is quite the love story. He being married before and his first wife dying. Michelle and he getting married. He having lots of family, but it ends up that she is the one that is the perfect donor match for him. She sacrificed a healthy part of her body to let him live because she loved him. She is the one having the most trouble with the surgery and her body having to get used to only one kidney. He is thriving. But it has brought them closer together.

So -- Jesus sacrificed for us. He paid for our sins in the Garden of Gethsamane and then offered up his body to death for our resurrection. But then He left. I guess what I am trying to figure out is this: when someone sacrifices something, that thing they sacrificed is dead. Let me explain how I get to this: We are on a diet and we sacrifice food. If the sacrifice is successful, then the heavy person that we are is sacrificed and gone. As mom's, we sacrifice our bodies and then sacrifice our needs (I get those are mostly selfish needs) but still, we sacrifice our wants (lets change to wants) to raise those children. The person we would be without children is sacrificed. But, then our children grow up and (if all goes according to plan) they leave. So the sacrifice is over. Still a leaving. A death of something because of sacrifice.

How about others in our lives? We may sacrifice for a friend, our time, energy, talents. Maybe our wants and desires to help that friend out (visiting teaching often hits this because I swear when you are called to take in a meal it is always at the least convenient time) are sacrificed. Then where does that go? Does it go to a death of something? The person that was before the sacrifice is gone, because the person who sacrificed has now come into being. That changes things.

After Christ sacrificed for us, he became a resurrected being. Now, we are all far from being like him (man -- especially me) but He left. I know we say He is always with us, but He still left the earth. He left his disciples. He went on to other things. Yet, He did this for us, and He became better for it. But He was also changed. So -- how does this apply to us? We sacrifice and hopefully those sacrifices are for worthy things. But it changes us. Hopefully for the better. But, with sacrifice there is a change. The question is can we live with the change? I suspect that if it is a true sacrifice, it will hurt a bit. It will change our heart and mind. It will knock off some of those rough edges (the corners off the square to make a circle). However, it changes things.

I don't know if we can see right away what it changes. It may take time -- or we may even need to wait until the next life to see. But I know that sacrifice hurts. It is not an easy thing. And it changes things.

We are asked to sacrifice our time, talents, and all that we have for building up the kingdom of God. Sometimes it is easy. Sometimes it is hard. Those callings that we get that we don't like (OK, for me it is usually scouting) are a sacrifice for the church. But those are almost temporal sacrifices. We are not required to be the best scout leader in order to obtain Celestial glory. However, our attitude -- our willingness to sacrifice for something the Lord has asked us to do, is required because it is Obedience that is required. So it does take sacrifice and obedience to have that change of heart. But may I focus on that word "change". We must "change" and become different. In the Book of Mormon it talks about becoming a new creature. But that is a whole lesson in and of itself.

So, in order to change who we are, we must sacrifice. But there is a realization. It changes things. So be prepared for that change -- especially since so many people have a hard time with changes. We cling to what we know or we cling to what we want or we cling to our sins. We don't want to sacrifice and change. It hurts. So set your sights on the good things in the world and sacrifice for that. Sacrifice for the ones you love. Sacrifice for what God asks you to do in your church callings. Sacrifice for things that are (insert 13th article of faith here) virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy because we seek after those things. Just always, always, always, expect a change.

Today

I learned about personal revelation today. It is the most important thing you can get in this life. I have learned this before, but I needed to hear it again and once again realize how important it is. There are the basic things we need to enter the gate -- (4th article of faith) faith, repentance, baptism, holy ghost. But that is only the 1st gate. In order to become part of the church of God (that is not what it is called, but I cannot remember for the life of me what it really is called) we must meet Jesus there at the gate to enter that. That is where your calling and election is made sure. Callings and elections are all part of the process -- we will eventually have to have it either here or in the next life. We live our lives with our eyes single to the Glory of God and doing what we should, and it can come to us. Callings and elections are made known to us either by a blessing (example Patriarichal blessing or just a blessing) in the temple, or by personal revelation. We are justified by Christ, then sanctified. This I know -- it is vitally important to know for ourselves (and teach our children) exactly what personal revelation is. It is important for us to have it so we can know what we must do in this earth life. Now -- can we get personal revelation for others? What has been taught is that if we have a stewardship over them, we can. But, we then must also have the revelation on whether to even tell them about that revelation. It may be something they have to come to an understanding all on their own.

Another thing that I have been learning is how important it is to recognize that each individual on this earth life must walk their own path. We can support, cheer, encourage, uplift, but the ultimate decisions on what they will do and be is up to them. That is the whole purpose of Free Agency. That is the biggest gift Heaveny Father gave us (next to His Son, Jesus Christ). But people's choices - especially the ones we do not agree with -- is just that -- Their Choice. They must live with the consequences. It is hard to see someone we love making bad choices. It is hard to see people around us making stupid choices. But, we CANNOT be judgemental. That is the Lord's job. All we can do is love them -- which is OUR job.

As I have looked back on my life, I have been critical of what I termed "stupid people". I have just begun to realize that I should never have judged them. I never walked in their shoes. I may think I have and I may project what I think and feel on to them, but when all is said and done, it is the Lord's job to judge them on what they know. Only He can see what is in their hearts. I have much repenting to do. I feel that I also was a bad example to others in this area. Critical is not a thing of Heavenly Father. It is so easy to do though. The general authorities have warned against criticism. It tears the person down who criticizes and also tears down the person you are criticizing. Where is the charity in that? Where is the pure love of God in that? Even if they are doing something stupid, or something they know they should not do, we have to love and leave it be in God's hands. Something easy to type, something not so easy to do. However, I am learning this and focusing on when I start to do this, and I try to stop. Just another thing of my mellowing out a bit in this time of my life.

Another thing I am

I remembered one thing today that I am. I think right now I am NOT living it, but I have been it and I see I can be it again. I am a good listener. I can listen to people and empathize with them. It has drawn people to me in the past. Right now I am just a big blabber mouth, but as I quit my floating around and changing it will begin again.