Sacrifice

"At this point in life, you're going to have to make all the sacrifices."

{The above was said during a long car ride by a fellow baseball fiancé. 
It is a piece of advice that came from a colleague of hers. 
It stuck with her long enough to share with me, and stuck with me long enough to share with you.} 

Yes, I've made quite a bit of sacrifices to be with my husband, but how long is "this point" in my life? Does it last 5, 10, 30 years? Then the tables turn and he begins to make all the sacrifices? Nope. If I have it my way I'll have children in the next 5 years (or so) and will be sacrificing it all for them for the rest of my life! 

When I got married I knew my life was changing forever. I knew it was no longer about me, but about us. I knew it, but hadn't grasped the concept completely. I still haven't. It's something I'm working through and will continue to work through for years to come {maybe the rest of my life}. 

We are selfish by nature and it's no surprise that at times I feel as though my 'sacrifices' need recognition. Then I just so happened to read the verse that opened my eyes to why I'm able to make these 'sacrifices' in the first place.
 

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. 
And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God."  -Ephesians 2:8

Christ made the ultimate sacrifice and has asked for nothing in return. His example on the cross allows us to forgive where we shouldn't, love those who are broken, sacrifice what we can't... 

Amazingly, in baseball, a successful sacrifice bunt does not count as an at bat but does count as a Plate Appearance; this means it does not count against a player in determining on base percentage. However, if the official scorer believes that the batter was attempting to bunt for a base hit, and not solely to advance the runners, the batter is not credited with a sacrifice bunt, and is charged an at bat.

What an incredible example of the message I'm trying to write. When making a sacrifice and thinking nothing of yourself during it, those closest to you are able to make advancements in the right direction without any negative repercussions onto yourself. For, "Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

With a connection like that between the game and the Word of God, 
'it's hard not to be romantic about baseball.' 

So in an endeavor to act out the word of God rather than just read it, I am making a pledge to no longer ask when life will be all about me again.  No longer refer to these amazing opportunities Christ has given me as "sacrifices." No longer wait for the day that I don't have to adjust my life to meet the needs of others. I will let everything I say be good and helpful, so that my words may be an encouragement to those who hear them (Ephesians 4:29).  

If you struggle with the same selfish thoughts, join me in posting Ephesians 2:8-10 on your bathroom mirror, car dash, nightstand, fridge... as a reminder that this life is not about your sacrifices, 
but about His.

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-E