Thankful Thursdays

Every time I glance at a photo of my parents, I see the word “sacrifice” written all over it. And I wonder, how can sacrifice look so happy?

There was a time when my husband and I thought “sacrifice” was a scary, bad word. We watched our parents give up so much for us, and it seemed like a heavy thing. But over time, we realized we had it all wrong.

When our kids were little, sacrifice meant giving up time, energy, and personal space. We woke up early, missed out on some fun stuff, and put their needs first. It also meant cutting back on personal spending to make sure they had what they needed.

What Ray and I learned from our parents, though, was that sacrifice wasn’t about giving up everything. It was about helping our kids grow. Our parents worked hard, put their needs aside for the family, and still found ways to enjoy life. Their selflessness shaped us and laid the foundation for everything we do for our kids. Most importantly, we learned from them that growth doesn’t happen without sacrifice. That had a huge impact on who we became. This is the lesson I want our kids to engrave in their brains.

As Lauren and Danny got older, the sacrifices changed. It wasn’t about the daily grind anymore; it was about giving them space to grow and make mistakes. Letting go was tough (really tough), but we learned from our parents that sometimes sacrifice means trusting our kids to figure things out on their own. Eventually, we found ourselves making bigger sacrifices, like helping with college tuition, supporting them in their careers, and offering our time in ways we never expected. The stakes got higher, but the purpose stayed the same.

Now that they’re adults and on their own, the sacrifices look different, but they’re still there. Now, it’s about being there when they need us, whether for advice, a hand, or just to listen. Or, my favorite thing—giving “unsolicited advice” (which, I’ve convinced myself they secretly love).

So, if you ask me if the sacrifices are worth it—absolutely, 100%. And we’re confident that the example we’ve set will help our kids carry this forward in their own families.

To Lauren and Danny:  Kids, “sacrifice” isn’t a scary, bad word. It’s a rewarding way of life. Knock yourselves out.

For the cycle of love and lessons passed down by our parents, and for God’s guidance through our sacrifices, we are eternally grateful.

What are you thankful for today?

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

“You can sacrifice and not love. But you cannot love and not sacrifice.”
–K. Vallotton

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