I never understood the sacrifice my parent made for my brothers and I. Growing up we would get most of the things that we wanted. But I never looked on the other side of the story. My dad worked for the Post Office and my mom was a school teacher. We had a comfortable life. Our 1^st home was a 2 bedroom and I bath single family home. It wasn’t big. My 3 brothers and I shared a single bedroom when we were kids. My younger brother, who died a year ago, used to sings songs before we went to sleep. We shared 2 beds. But we didn’t see it as a sacrifice. When I was 12 years old, we moved into a large house where we had our own bedroom. Sometimes it was lonely sleeping on my own bed. I was always nervous about having children. When each child was born and came home, I was visible shaken. I was responsible for another life. I held each child in my arms and prayed for God’s help. A peace came to me and I did for each child what was necessary. Whatever my sons needed, I did for them. I never looked at it as a sacrifice. I didn’t have a lot of extra money to spend on myself. Because I had spent it on my family. I gave my life for my God and my family. But it was never a sacrifice for me. Because I died daily to serve my God and my family. And a dead man doesn’t feel pain. I have found that sacrifice is the only way to live a full and productive life. And I am glad I did.

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