No doubt you remember figure skater Nancy Kerrigan. Although she won a sliver medal in the Olympics, she is probably best remembered for her unfortunate experience with Tonya Harding. However, there is another part of Nancy’s life that is far more interesting.

Nancy’s mother, Brenda, experienced severe nerve damage in her eyes when Nancy was one year old. A virus attacked her eyes, and Brenda became legally blind. In order to watch Nancy skate, she had to press her face against her television, and even then the figure of her beautiful daughter was just a blur.

In spite of her blindness, Brenda Kerrigan has always been a wonderful support for her daughter. She demonstrated her love for Nancy by starting her day, every day, at 4:30 a.m. in order that Nancy might practice at the ice rink. This went on for years!

It cost her family over $35,000 a year to provide the best coaches and equipment for her daughter. Her husband, Dan, didn’t make that much in a year!

When Mrs. Kerrigan was asked about the great sacrifice she and her family made for Nancy, she said, "It never made any sense. We just did it."

Sometimes sacrifice doesn't make sense; but it can cost a great deal! Just ask Jesus. He spoke of the great cost of the sacrifice He made for us: “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matt. 20:28.

He gave his very life, and yet He tells us that He did it, not because it made sense, but because it was the cost of love. He said to His followers, “13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

Truthfully, the enormity of Jesus’ sacrifice doesn’t make sense! The Son of God was willing to become a man, suffer, and die for sins we had committed? It was a sacrifice too great! And yet it is the sacrifice God’s great love demanded.

Like Mrs. Kerrigan, perhaps God would say, "It never made any sense. We just did it." I, for one, am glad they did!

With Love,

Mike