On Sacrifice
Posted on Tuesday, 17 January 2017
On Sacrifice
By Apolinario Villalobos
Sacrifice has always been a part of our
life…a very painful experience and episode that can determine our emotional
strength. And, just like everything on Earth that has a reason for “being”, the
sacrifice that befalls us has a reason, and the realization can be understood
if only we think deeper and seriously about it. As much as possible, we should
not hate the world for any painful episode in our life.
I once read in the internet about a
battered wife who was later abandoned by her husband, as if the battering was
not enough to humiliate her person. She thought of committing a suicide but she
thought of her child, barely one year old. When she went to the market one day,
she befriended a vegetable vendor of her age. Their friendship was such that
they confided to each other about their status in life. They both found out
that they have same the same harrowing experience but the vegetable vendor was
left with 3 children by her drug addict husband, while the other one was only
with one child. At, the end, she ended up selling vegetables alongside her
friend, the second battered wife with 3 children, after learning the rudiments
of sidewalk vending. It was only when she started vending that she discovered
her acumen for selling. She began to embark on selling second-hand jewelries
but did not abandon her vegetable stall as her customers were her frequent
buyers. She was able to save money that she used to open a small convenient
store in front of their house. She realized that had she not been abandoned by
her husband, she would be still suffering from his humiliation and cruelty.
Alone with her child, she was able to stand on her own feet and regained her
dignity.
I have mentioned in a blog that everything
that one wishes for can be had, but it takes a lot of pain and sacrifice in
exchange for such. Nothing wonderful can be achieved just with the click of
fingers, except for those who were born with the proverbial silver spoon in
their mouth. But, then, most of them grow up sad and discontented and most
often alone for being envied, so they have to resort to practically “buying” their
friends.
Separation of husbands and wives oftentimes
come out as a “blessing in disguise”. God gave the parties the chance to live
together but due to worldly dissatisfactions, they decided to part ways which
surely entailed a lot of painful sacrifice. Their former relationship could be used
as a gauge in assessing their new life. The only question that may be asked
could be, “are they happier?” If they are, indeed, they have the painful
experience of separation – a sacrifice, to thank for. Had they endured the
spats and quarrels with their former partners, thereby, miss the chance to move
on….there’s nobody to blame but themselves for being timid.
Our life is in itself a “motion” and such
mobility should not be hindered, otherwise, we shall stagnate. We have to move
on. If we fail to do that, we will be like stagnant water that stinks!
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