Inspiration & Paradox 61: When Sacrifice is a Sacrifice?

So, does sacrifice bring pain or happiness?

Whether it’s in a relationship or approaching an issue in life, the act of sacrifice often suggests the experiencing of great struggle and dilemma when in coming to terms with a situation and making a certain decision to give up something. However, people also often say that no good things happen without a sacrifice; this is,  no pain, no gain. This is the paradox of sacrifice. Think about it, the expected or desired outcome of that sacrifice must be so important that is enough to drive one to make that hard decision. If no benefits can be achieved by making a sacrifice, then there would be no sacrifices, and this makes the understanding of sacrifice concept fuzzy. Perhaps what could make a distinction is the motives behind the sacrifices, how selfless is it? Who receives the benefits of the sacrifice, others or own self after all? Nevertheless, when one gives up his time or his “well-being” for a purpose or for a person, the end result of the intended act of sacrificing must have brought about an outcome that is attractive enough to make one feel good or right about that sacrifice. Take for instance a common example of a mother who says she will make the sacrifice of giving up her rewarding career to take care of her growing up children.  What has probably helped her make the decision is the prospect of her children receiving more attention and guidance, better training and development, and becoming more able learners in schools and in life. So if the children grow up to do well in life, isn’t this also the gain of the mother and that sacrifice becomes not so much of a sacrifice? Take another contrasting case of a poor man who has nothing to give away but his time for a group of needy children who have nobody to take care of them. And if he tells you that that it’s not at all a sacrifice to him because this is what would make him feel happy and fulfilled in life, would it be still appropriate to call that a kind of sacrificial love for others?