Entitlement is a lie. It deceives us into believing that we deserve reward without effort. The trouble is, we’re not given a good life. We earn it through commitment, dedication and sacrifice.
That profound truth was beautifully captured in the movie Saving Private Ryan. Tom Hanks’ character, Captain John Miller, leads a group of men on an extraordinary mission behind enemy lines: find Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have died in combat. The men succeed in their mission but at a steep cost. Six of the eight die.
The weight of their sacrifice is driven home at the end of the film when Captain Miller, who is mortally wounded, whispers two words before he dies. “Earn this,” he says to Private Ryan. The movie then fast forwards several decades to where a now elderly Private Ryan is paying his respects at Captain Miller’s grave. Grateful for the sacrifice of so many others, Ryan says to his wife, “Tell me I’m a good man. Tell me I’ve lived a good life.”
We all stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. Family. Friends. Even the good will of coworkers or neighbors. No one is an island. Each of us thrives because of the people who have sacrificed on our behalf. But their sacrifice rightfully demands our sacrifice. We honor those who have blessed us, not by selfish living or wasting the good things afforded us, but by living a life that blesses others.