Sacrifice

Earlier this month my sister was given a topic to write about at school, and once she read it to me I absolutely fell in love!
So as a tribute to our brave soldiers, I thought of sharing it here.

    اللهم ارحم شهداء الوطن برحمة واسعة من عندك

اللهم تقبل شهادتهم

اللهم اسكنهم الفردوس الأعلى

What does it mean to sacrifice? The true meaning of sacrifice isn’t just giving everything up, its way more than that; it’s putting others before you. Sacrifice doesn’t mean rejection of the useless or despicable however, of the valuable and precious. There are always certain things in life that we need to accept we can’t have. We can’t live our lives thinking we can get everything our heart desires. Yes, we should indeed be determined, we should fight for what we want, but at some point we are going to have to go give up something in order to gain another.

Almost my whole life, the most common phrase that I’ve heard people say is “love is sacrifice”, but what is love? Love is valuing joy and pain of another as if they were your own. An anonymous person once said, “What is love? No one could define it; it’s something so great, only god could design it. Yes, love is beyond what man can define, for love is immortal and god’s gift is divine.” This love can be love of a friend or relative, however in all types of love, sacrifices have to be made. If you truly love someone, you would always put their happiness above yours, their needs above yours. “Sacrificing your happiness for the happiness of the one you love is by far, the truest type of love.”

Haven’t we thought of our soldiers? They risk their lives daily just to ensure the safety of our country and the people living in it. Going and fighting for their country is the greatest and most honourable gift anyone can ask for, yet it’s still a significant sacrifice. Leaving their families and friends in order to provide safety for the people of their country is just wonderful and brave of them. We can’t be grateful enough of their selflessness and altruism. Not to mention, they chose to go with their own intentions without anyone forcing them even though they know there is a great risk of dying or getting injured badly. If this isn’t the most remarkable act of sacrifice, then what is? A wise man called Simone De Beauvoir once said, “Every war, every revolution, demands the sacrifice of a generation, of a collectivity, by those who undertake it.”

The UAE started recruiting soldiers years ago to make certain of the protection of our country. Because of their bravery and great intention to fight whatever stands in the way of our safety, we have recently lost a few of these soldiers. They have loved their country so passionately to a level where they risked their lives so that many can be protected. They put their lives out there for us and we are forever thankful and indebted to their heroism. What they have done is certainly courageous because, if soldiers didn’t sacrifice their time with their families and friends to protect us, then we wouldn’t know what freedom and peace felt like. The governors and rulers of the UAE have sacrificed so much to maintain the happiness and well-being of their people. What more can anyone ask for? They have cared for the people in their country by feeding those in hunger, caring for the hurt, ill or needy. They have always placed everyone’s needs above theirs and not once have they hesitated when the matter was between their people and their needs. Throughout history, we have seen our military go brave into battle, armed with courage and willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Sacrifice is almost always necessary because everything comes with a price. However there are three things in life that you should never sacrifice no matter how badly you want something; your family, your heart and your dignity. In our journey of life, we must always know that no matter what we will always face difficulties. We have to be aware that our struggles will require sacrifices upon sacrifices, as David Ramsey said, “The most important decision about your goals is not what you are willing to do to achieve them, but what are you willing to give up.”

A piece by Asma Mohammed