sac·ri·fice
[sak-ruh-fahys]Giving up of something valued: a giving up of something valuable or important for somebody or something else considered to be of more value or importance.
"Sacrifice" seems like a dirty word lately, especially with all the consumerism that goes along with "The Holidays" and the growth of the mentality of those that believe they're entitled to certain things.
As I've matured and had a recent birthday (again), I've realized that I have so much more than I could ever use or deserve, fortifying the belief that I'm here to serve and provide for others with the gifts I've been blessed with. Now, instead of looking for stuff to acquire, much of my time is devoted to finding needs and causes to support with time, prayer, and finances.
There's a guy I know that always seems to have a bag of clown food for breakfast, plus a reindeer latte. Came to find out that he also tends to get fast food during the remainder of the day as well. We had a conversation about my recent Nicaragua trip and the subject turned toward giving, and he said he couldn't find room to donate money to a cause.
Just for fun, I thought about what this would cost a person each day.
Breakfast: 1 clown food breakfast sandwich + 1 reindeer-brand latte = $7.87/day x 20 days = nearly $180/month.
Lunch: Sub sandwich, chips, drink = $8/day x 20 days = $160/month.
Dinner: burrito (contents containing naturally-raised/grown ingredients) = $8.
Millions of people live on less than $2/day. One coffee costs twice that, without getting very fancy. That $340 above could feed and support many!
Reputable charities are able to make a dollar go a long way. For instance, FMSC's Manna Pack provides 6 1-Cup servings of food for just 22 cents. Sponsoring a child through World Vision for $35 a month is a minimal sacrifice (if you can call it that) that can help a child and his/her community worth at least three times that. And through efforts of local charities right here in the U.S., a $100 donation can feed nearly 50 people.
Would you prayerfully consider supporting a charity of your choice this Christmas instead of acquiring more stuff?
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