How He Teaches Me...

I can honestly say that I have learned more about God & how He loves me through my own children, than in any other way. I can often hear Him whisper to me as I correct a stubborn child or when my heart breaks for them. I can so see how He loves us, so unconditionally, as a parent loves their child. I recently had a conversation with someone who had been babysitting a friend's baby. As this child slept in her arms, all she could think of was the awesome potential of this beautiful little girl & what amazing things might be in her future. At this point in their life, the sky's the limit! The potential is endless & you can't even imagine anything in their world that would not be beautiful & perfect. As I listened to my friend, I thought back to the many times that things didn't go the way I had hoped in the life of one of my children. You see them struggle & want so much to jump in & make everything all better, but you know you cannot. They learn through their struggles, through their mistakes. I can only offer loving arms to wrap around them and an ear to listen. You think back to that baby & all their potential, and wonder how you ever got to this place. My children are no different than me. Than any of you. Who of us hasn't struggled? Who of us hasn't fallen, stumbled or made mistakes. I know that it breaks my mother's heart because I only want good things in their lives. But no matter how many mistakes they may make, I in no way love them any less. I can just imagine God standing back watching me fail, sometimes time & time again, and I can imagine His father's heart breaking...for me. But I also know that no matter what, He promises to "never leave me nor forsake me". I know that because of His Son, I don't have to be perfect in order to earn His love for me. My children don't have to earn my love for them either. I love them simply because they are mine, gifts given to me by my Father. Holding them as infants it would never occur to me to think that I would only love them if they didn't screw up! Thankfully, we too have a Father who doesn't stop loving us when we screw up! I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He will always love me, just as I know I will always love my children. Unearned, unconditional, unending.