Sacrifice!

It is Easter morning.  I had expected to be at the Church meeting this morning, celebrating Easter with friends.  Instead I am at home nursing my 5- year old daughter, who has been sick with a tummy bug since yesterday afternoon.  I was inclined to be disappointed, until the thought came to me: what is Easter all about, if not sacrifice and love? 
"...But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."  1 Peter 2:19-24
I was thinking about these words the other day.  It is so human to defend myself, to insist on my rights, to demand that I be fairly treated.  But that is not my calling!  I have been called to follow in Jesus' steps!  Where would we be if He had insisted on His rights?  He suffered for me- not only at the tend of His life here on earth, but every day, making it possible for me to follow in His steps! 
... I tried to share these thoughts with someone the other day, and his response was to point out that we as Christians have a duty to protect the opressed and downtrodden, and defend human rights.  He added his views on our responsibility towards the environment and how important it is to voice our concerns and thus influence politics.  All of which I felt totally missed the point!
What speaks to me is that I personally have been called!! so that I might follow in his steps in my daily, personal circumstances.  So that when I am contradicted (knowing that I am right!), I can let it go instead of creating an argument; when it seems that I am always serving others, I don't demand to be served; when things don't go according to my plans, I remain in rest...  The result is a life that God can use to bless others!