Qualify to Sacrifice

To give up (something valued) for the sake of others considerations is what sacrifice means. A lot of us undeservingly claim having doing ‘sacrifices’…working hard doesn't mean sacrificing your social life.

Most eyes fail to recognise the other persons sacrifices in becoming what they are, or while they are pursuing an on-going goal. Eyes which are disconnected with their heart and mind fail to consider sacrifice a moral responsibility for another. On the other hand sacrifice for many is a part of life, it's supposed to be, for them it is never a regret, more so it's something to aspire to.

Many who’ve achieved great successes in their respective fields be it as a doctor, nurse, musician, writer etc. have done so not as “overnight sensations” but as those with their nose to the grind. It took less than ten seconds for Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt to cover the one hundred meter distance on the Olympic track and win the gold medal in London. Those few seconds cemented his status as the “fastest man alive”. Note the race wasn’t won in those seconds, it was won by hours and hours of sacrifices disguised in practice, workouts, special diet, coaching and His communication with himself and in his words "Nothing would have been possible without Him," referencing his faith and God. The race was not won in the performance but in the preparation.

As parents most sacrifice their today so that their children can have a better tomorrow. It is my deepest beliefs that only by giving our lives do we find life.

Teamwork is the art of joining others in pursuit of a common goal; personally it’s not joining a team but becoming a team. Becoming a team requires sacrifices.

There is undeniably sacrifice in leadership. Self-sacrificial leadership occurs when a leader forfeits one or more professional or personal advantages for the sake of followers, the organization, or a mission.

True sacrifices are in scarcity, the superficially spoken kinds especially in power and position have little understanding to what it takes to sacrifice. Currently, our actions, thoughts, and words are done with self-interest and self-comfort (Haume or ego). If only done without any regard for personal interest or comfort it qualifies as sacrifice. In other words, anything done as an offering to God for the benefit of the Creation without the sense of "I, me, mine, you" is a sacrifice.

Every profession has values to keep, to be true to keep its honour many a sacrifices happen. When you make the sacrifice in marriage, you're sacrificing not to each other but to unity in a relationship. The love angle of sacrifice; you can sacrifice and not love, but you cannot love and not sacrifice. A poet said “When others you support and advocate, that’s when God has made you capable of late”

Simple beginning for qualifying to sacrifice; sleep and dream life is joy, may you then wake up to realise life is about sacrifices and you proceed to act. Your sacrifices bring joy to the other and you too are rewarded with joy and closeness with the almighty, experiencing him in this life and soulful peace when in rest.

Gurbani Ang 47 says “sadaa sadaa aaraaDhee-ai din visrahu nahee raat… Forever and ever, worship and adore Him. Day and night, do not forget Him. One, whose destiny is so pre-ordained, obtains the Lord of the Universe as his Companion. I dedicate my body, mind, wealth and all to Him. I totally sacrifice my soul to Him”