Tag Archive | sacrifice

Need an Oriental Rug?

Jan22

The apartment was clean and tidy. Laundry was done, and supper was nearly ready. He proceeded to the living room where he emptied his arms and rather than turning to greet me with a hug and a kiss, he opened his pack over the oriental rug and dumped his very smelly, muddy fatigues (battle dress uniforms) and dirty equipment.

Whoa! That got my attention.

“Yeah, it’s good to see you too. What kind of greeting was that?”

I was new at the welcome your husband home after a bad day thing, so I expected him to cut me some slack. Not so. I offered to hold dinner and fill the tub for him.

“I’ll do it myself.”

I let him. The meat was dry and the potatoes too salty, but he gobbled it down anyway. His mood didn’t improve and I pushed.

“What’s the matter?”

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

“Nothing was wrong until you unloaded all that filth on my rug?”

No response. He didn’t seem to notice the ownership I applied to the rug, went into the bedroom, and closed the door. My dad would have given my mom a good argument. I knew how to argue, but I had no clue how to deal with pouting silence. When arguing through the bedroom door was ineffective, I backed off and let him sleep.

Okay. I’ll admit I didn’t let him sleep right away. I cleaned up his mess, making as much noise as possible. I wanted him to be able to hear me brushing the mud off every pair of pants and cleaning each piece of his gear. There was also some moaning and loud groaning involved. I calculated what my huge reward would be for my act of self-sacrifice. I was a young wife, and didn’t understand my actions didn’t meet the criteria of sacrifice.

To sacrifice means to give, with no expectations and with the understanding that no one, other than you, will pay the price for your good deeds. I wanted Jack to feel punished. (Excerpt from Life On Goliath’s Mountain)

That really happened. Wish I could say it happened to someone else, but it was me. I was willing to “fight fair,” but it takes two. And my offender, with one grand gesture, wanted to be done with the struggles of his day.

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone treated us the way we wanted to be treated while overlooking our lapses in judgment or restraint? We’ll never know.

But here’s the place we need to start:
Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Did you hear the harshness in my words? Did you sense the harshness in my actions? That was nearly 40 years ago. I memorized the words to Proverbs 15:1 as a child, but lately, I haven’t done such a great job of applying them to my daily interactions.

I think these few words of instruction deserve at least a week of repetition and effort. It’s my verse of the week. Join me?

We can talk about sacrifice versus wannabe martyrs some other time. I know some of you could teach me a thing or two, but it’s Friday night. I’ve had a rough week. And I can’t find an oriental rug to dump on.

Just the Teacups

Sep22

Aimee talked mostly of the Teacups during our two day drive. She had seen, from a photo, something in the faces of her older brother and sister that made going to Disney World a goal since she was two years old. What was it about sitting in oversized buckets painted like fancy teacups that kept her dream alive for a lifetime? I still don’t know, but three years is a lifetime of anticipation according to any five year old.

It’s a mild ride. No seat belts. No fear. Only music and smiles. Aimee had been promised the wheel. She would be allowed to control how fast we would spin, or if we would spin at all.

“I can’t wait to ride the Teacups.”

“No. No. You’ve got to go on Magic Mountain!”

She wasn’t the least bit excited about roller coastering in the dark. She cupped her hands over her ears, refusing to listen to her brother’s advice.

“I just want to ride the Teacups.”

“I’ll take you to Typhoon Lagoon. It will be a blast!” Her sister’s promise of protection was ineffective.

“I just want to ride the Teacups.”

The previous two days had been spent in my compact car, with three kids continuously requesting salty food, sweet drinks, and bathroom stops. How many tanks of gas? Eight days of hotel room stays had been reserved on my credit card. Two weeks of grocery money was handed over to a teenager in a booth so we could walk through a gate. I was already perspiring, and the sun had barely climbed over the trees on the horizon.

Then I got it. With acres of theme park attractions and rides promising take her to the edge of the earth, Aimee wanted nothing more than a three minute ride in the slow moving teacups she’d seen in a photo.

What had I sacrificed to give my precious daughter the thrill of her short little lifetime?

She took my hand and pulled me through the turnstile. The four of us stood, amazed by our options, but the decision was easy. We followed our map to The Teacups.

That was in 1989. Aimee ended up riding not only the Teacups, but every other ride in the park where she met the height requirements. Some of the rides required her to stand extra tall or add some tip to her toes, but it was worth it. We had a fantastic vacation.

Over the past few years, a desire to write words that inspire and tell stories to encourage has become a simple pleasure and a hobby. No other hobby has caused me to save, plan, or sacrifice like my newfound adventure into writing. More importantly, everything involved in the process of writing, reminds me of all the riches provided to me from a most-loving, heavenly Father.

Preparing this, my first post for Wet Feet, caused me to feel some of what Aimee must have felt when she heard the music and gazed at the substance of her dream for the first time. Kathy Stanford, my friend and partner in this adventure, has pulled me through the turnstile where I stand amazed.

Read: Psalm 104:24

Until next time:
1. Can you name two things Jesus sacrificed to give you good things?
2. Do you prefer to ride slow and be in control, or do you tend to look for the thrill rides?
3. Can you recall a time where God clearly provided a way for you to reach a goal, fulfill a desire, or be thrilled by an experience?

Lord, I want to experience all of your riches. Remind me to look beyond my simple desires at your many amazing works. Help me to keep my eyes and my dreams focused on You. Amen.