Good Friday is a day of solemn reflection. It is a day to contemplate sacrifice, redemption and forgiveness. Yet, even in the quiet introspection that many Christian families will engage in on Good Friday with respect to Jesus’s crucifixion, there will no doubt be parallels drawn with our daily trials.

Though most of us will never face the trials that Jesus himself faced in the Bible, we all experience a level of pain that may be unbearable to us, and sacrifices that we know we must endure. It’s a day that reminds us that every selfless act — be it in grand gestures or modest deeds — carries its own quiet heroism.

It is a day for those good people who face down trials that challenge their morality or principles. It is a day for those who serve our states and nation, who selflessly work hard for others. It is a day for those who raise their families, their children, who keep good homes and encourage their loved ones to lead productive lives. But it is also a day to recognize that there are those who have been dealt bad hands, and who are often faced with the hard choices of survival and morality. For many in America, Good Friday marks a day for hope that our nation might be united once more under one flag — a day where we honor our responsibilities to one another, to be good neighbors, to trust the institutions that keep us safe and to contribute to the common good.

Whether one believes in Jesus Christ or not, the story of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice is one that we can all rally behind. A man who was not killed for glory or recognition. He did not fear his fate. He voluntarily sacrificed himself to create a path toward redemption for others.

The lesson of sacrifice by Jesus Christ is a timeless invitation for all of us to, at least for one day of the year, retreat internally to transform our innermost selves. We must be compelled by the story of Good Friday to honor ourselves, our families, our communities, and our country. We might all be better people if we were to heed that quiet call to love for something greater than just ourselves.

Armstrong Williams (www.armstrongwilliams.com; @arightside) is a political analyst, syndicated columnist and owner of the broadcasting company, Howard Stirk Holdings. He is also part owner of The Baltimore Sun.