Gary and Mary Jane Chauncey were devoted to their 11-year old daughter, Andrea. She had cerebral palsy and was confined to a wheelchair. 

The Chauncey’s were on a train which was travelling over a bridge in Louisiana. A barge hit the bridge. Their train was derailed. Some of the train cars ended up on the riverbank, and some were in the river. Their car was right in the middle—and slowly sliding into the river.

What should they do? Time was running out. 

Gary and Mary Jane worked with all their might to get their daughter out a window. Keep in mind that Andrea was otherwise confined to her wheelchair and couldn’t do it herself.

They succeeded. But just after they did so, the train slid further into the river. Time had run out. Their car filled with water and both parents died.*

What word could we use to describe the actions of those parents? Certainly “love,” but also “sacrifice,” which is a powerful expression of love.

We see it most clearly in John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Jesus said it. Then he did it. Not only did he talk the talk, but he walked the walk—all the way to the cross.

Sacrifice is an expression of love. It puts others first, even when it’s going to cost you something. You might not be on a derailed train trying to save your daughter. You might not lose your life. But you will have opportunities—even “small” ones—to life sacrificially. 

When you do, you are imitating the one who always put others first.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

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 Notes and extra content:

—PAUSE ALERT. After August 1, 2024, this devotional will go on pause as I take some vacation time. It will return on August 28th. You can catch up with previous devotionals at TheUpDevo. com or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.)

–“Giving up good things for great things.” Sermon. July 28, 2024. Click here.

–*As in: Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence (New York: Bantam, 1997), 3.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.