Do Small Sacrafices Make A Difference

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Drew518

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I was driving home from work today and really wanted to stop at McDonalds for something quick on the way home. But I started having second thoughts as I got closer. I knew I had food at home and the money I would have spent could be saved for something more important. So I passed and had left overs for lunch.

My question is, do small sacrifices like this mean much to God? Times when you know you can get something else, but choose to use what you already have instead? I realize this may sound silly. But I guess I’m just curious.
 
Drew518 said:
I was driving home from work today and really wanted to stop at McDonalds for something quick on the way home. But I started having second thoughts as I got closer. I knew I had food at home and the money I would have spent could be saved for something more important. So I passed and had left overs for lunch.

My question is, do small sacrifices like this mean much to God? Times when you know you can get something else, but choose to use what you already have instead? I realize this may sound silly. But I guess I’m just curious.
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When for ascetical or spiritual purpose -yes.
 
I agree, whether a sacrifice makes good sense or not depends on the reasons why it is done.

Of course, in general, every little thing we do can make a difference. A smile I give to a passer-by can make a BIG difference, for example.

As for sacrifices – if done out of love, out of reflection, out of spirituality, out of the needs to grow spiritually, and I am sure the list could go on… they can be something very positive, I believe.
A warning thogh: I also know from personal experience though that if done out of compulsion or scrupulosity, to the point where a person always feels guilty when doing something good for themselves… then it can also be very counterproductive and unhealthy and it is best to talk to a priest or spiritual advisor about it,
 
Yes, that is true! Like for example if I myself feel down and not like smiling at all, and I’d rather vent to the other person about my own problems, but choose to smile instead…
 
Small sacrifices are not small at all. With the grace of God, even a smile can save a life - I know, I’ve been there, on both sides. When you offer anything and everything to God, He can and does work miracles. A little girl allowed God into her body, and look what happened - redemption for the entirety of the human race. Your sacrifice of McDonald’s may mean you donate an extra bit to whatever charity - just enough to help someone exactly how and when they needed it. Maybe even save the life of an unborn child. Who knows? You may not change the world with your sacrifice, but you may just make a world of difference for someone, somewhere.
 
st therese , the little flower, would agree-little things do count…
 
As Mother Theresa has been quoted as saying, it isn’t how big the act is, it’s with how much love we do it that counts. Well, something along that line.
 
Christy_Beth said:
As Mother Theresa has been quoted as saying, it isn’t how big the act is, it’s with how much love we do it that counts. Well, something along that line.
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“Whatever form we are, able or disabled, rich or poor, it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing.” ~ Blessed Mother Teresa 🙂
david_patrick said:
st therese , the little flower, would agree-little things do count…
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I was totally going to say that! 👍

To quote her:

*"Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” * ~ St. Thérèse of Lisieux
 
Drew518 said:
I was driving home from work today and really wanted to stop at McDonalds for something quick on the way home. But I started having second thoughts as I got closer. I knew I had food at home and the money I would have spent could be saved for something more important. So I passed and had left overs for lunch.

My question is, do small sacrifices like this mean much to God? Times when you know you can get something else, but choose to use what you already have instead? I realize this may sound silly. But I guess I’m just curious.
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I feel little things are very important, even as something as simple as taking care of the things we have. Shoes, for example, or our houses, cars, etc… If we are thankful for all that God has given us I believe that the little things shows that forth. I remember when I was in jr. high I was over at a friend’s house and her older brother was taking care of some of his leather shoes, not to be vain, but so those shoes wouldn’t wear out as quickly. I’m in my thirties and I obviously still think of that.

Another “small” thing that happened while I was in college was simply a stranger who walked past me and told me to smile and grinned at me, and it made me rethink my attitude that was clearly showing on my face. Little things cause ripples.
 
Because I know I am not capable or called to make big sacrifices, all I can do is offer small acts of love. Sometimes our small sacrifices join thousands of other small sacrifices and the resultant river of loving giving can have an impact beyond our imagination. Other times, our passing smile or act of kindness can produce long lasting effects on others.

As other have said, small sacrifices need to be made with love to God or for others and with joy. Then God will work wonders, although we may never be aware of it.
 
Drew518 said:
I was driving home from work today and really wanted to stop at McDonalds for something quick on the way home. But I started having second thoughts as I got closer. I knew I had food at home and the money I would have spent could be saved for something more important. So I passed and had left overs for lunch.

My question is, do small sacrifices like this mean much to God? Times when you know you can get something else, but choose to use what you already have instead? I realize this may sound silly. But I guess I’m just curious.
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This is not silly. Small sacrifices do make a difference. We have a tendency to forget that, and we shouldn’t. Making small sacrifices also prepares us to make bigger ones.

Anytime we do something in earnest and offer it to God and for His glory it is a good thing. Never underestimate the power of even the smallest sacrifice. You never really know what it may result in.
 
Since God can see an atom as easily as He can see the entire universe, nothing is little to Him.

Remember the parable of the sheep and goats and how He praises the sheep for something as tiny as giving someone a drink of water.
 
Drew wonders: “I had food at home and the money I would have spent could be saved for something more important. So I passed and had leftovers for lunch.
My question is, do small sacrifices like this mean much to God?”

I believe that if I think I am doing a Sacrifice, that God appreciates it. God knows what is in my Heart and in my Mind. To me, this means that my Intentions (with whatever underlying emotions are there) are the most important indicator of how God perceives my actions (and the actions I do NOT take).

In a very real way, ALL of Life is filled with sacrifices. Whenever I give my time and attention to another person, I am sacrificing my time and attention to him; of course, some times I really like doing it (not quite a sacrifice at all, a Win), while with other people, it is like a trip to the dentist (an overwhelming sacrifice, in my eyes).

Many times, what I MOST want to do … is unavailable. Many other times, my second (and third … 4th ?) most-wanted things to do are not available. So, in a real sense, I must sacrifice the enjoyment I couldn’t receive. If I then offer that sacrifice to God, with a smile, that is worth something to God.

In your case, you actually chose to sacrifice an action that WAS available for you to do. So, because God knows that you did made your choice for a good reason, it clearly means something to God. Your little sacrifice (in my eyes), may be a LARGER sacrifice in God’s eyes–that is part of the mystery of Faith : I don’t know … God knows … He ain’t talking to me about it … I choose to believe that God likes it. The Bible spends some time saying that if I think God feels a certain way, that HE may indeed feel that way about it (e.g., the guy with one Talent, buries it, to protect it, because God is mean . . . Poof, God is now mean with him about it).

People do NOT have the ability to think like God thinks. Over the years, I know that occasionally I am going “God’s Will.” The rest of the time, I must develop the Trust to know that I will mess-up many times each day, and that God (in His inscrutable wisdom) will appreciate enough of what I am doing correctly (whatever those things are in God’s eyes), to cut-me-some-slack on all of the wrong things I am doing (including some things that I am positive are RIGHT to do). Thank you, God. I am not worthy.
 
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