We often see instances of sacrifices around us. In the less developed nation that India used to be when we were growing up, we had seen how a mother would eat less so her child eats more, or how one kid would give up his schooling as he had to start earning money for his family.
I don't think sacrificing is ever easy. The things which make up who we are, those things are the only ones that we let go of. A so called part of you, physical or non, will part with you.
The only thing that motivates a person wo give up one of his part is the vision of bigger picture, in front of which (s)he is hardly anything. The mother would not even think twice before giving her share of food to her kid. It's the kid that has to grow, that her share of growth is no more important than kid's. The elder member would be content seeing that his siblings are attending to school because of his working. That his education is nothing in front of the little kids who still have scope to change the world outside their homes.
The soldier ready to give up his life for saving a civilian, the father eager to save a million for well being of his kids... these all are stories which may just indicate that every living being knows that there are things greater than they themselves.
This is true of everything. There is always something greater than anu other thing. When one sacrifices a thing, (s)he gets closer to the nature, his share of ego (that kept him/her in a separate shell) has got parted with the thing let gone. Sacrificing is the truest , credible way to lose one's self slowly and slowly.
A heartful bow down for parts of those who sacrifice :)
