I just have to give it up that no one is going to love my kid as much as I do.
Not any teacher.
Not a sister.
Not even a grandmother or an aunt.
It’s just that way. I tell my oldest that I love her. And she asks, maybe testing, How much?
To the moon and back at least, Mama?
Yes, to the moon and back. How about to Pluto and back?
That’s far. How about to heaven and back, she asks.
(but she doesn’t know that heaven is closer than she knows).
And then I say to her, You won’t understand how much I love you until you have a little girl yourself. And then you will see just what I mean when I tell you that I love you. Pluto, the moon, heaven…all of it is too close.
God gives a special heart to mothers and fathers. One that looks past dirty diapers, flu symptoms in the middle of the night and possible H1N1 infection. This heart doesn’t care about three-year-old morning breath or fingernails so dirty they should be clipped instead of scrubbed. A parent’s love doesn’t worry about sweaty soccer shin guards or tantrums in the preschool classroom. They kiss the dirt in skinned knees and the picks up pieces of shattered hearts.
Love covers these. And makes up for them. Love lives in the chasm between selfishness and selflessness.
When kids are loved like this, they are free to run and make mistakes and ask hard questions. They can cry and hurt and open little hearts to be healed. My girls know that they are loved, they know that they are prized and they know that even if everyone else in life is against them, I will stand up for them. In this kind of love, there is a freedom.
This protect-at-all-cost love is the same that God has for us.
We test Him all the time, How much do you love me?
What if I do this? Will you still love me?
And He says, Yes.
He looks past our grimy fingernails and our intentional sins. His love covers our gossip and our hurtful words and the lies we tell. He doesn’t take it personally when we forget to thank Him or don’t give our lunch to the hungry.
His love for us is like no other. No husband or earthly mother can love us the same as He does. His is fierce and strong and does not waver. He never thinks twice about the cost of loving us, the people that damage one another and so often forget that we need someone to bridge our gaps.
Between our selfishness and selflessness.
Between bitterness and forgiveness.
Between anger and mercy.
His perfect love lives in the chasm for us.
How has God’s love “lived in the chasm” for you lately?
Tags: children, love, parenting, selfishness, selflessness
Crap Sarah. I wasn’t ready for this today…
Sarah, your posts never cease to amaze me. Thank you for this very touching and oh-so-true one today!! So very much appreciated.
Lovely… that special mother/father heart is such a gift, and gives us a little glimpse into what He feels for us. Love it.
everyday, sarah. His love lives in the chasm everyday.
What a sweet article. I too have a sweet little girl 13 who loves to be with me and I her.
Thank you for sharing this. The family is a very special place where the kindness of God’s love and can abound with grace for mistakes unlike with strangers in the world.
It is also the place where very difficult things are learned to prepare us for those who are not as loving as they first appear.
This too is a lesson the fatherless or motherless can not learn as effectively from a single parent as from both. (In my humble opinion).
God’s love is mighty and strong as well as being perfect and gentle. He allows things that if we have not prepared our children for, crush them. We must seriously consider all He desires for them to be strong in life. (again, in my humble opinion)
Thank you for your wonderful comments and your selfless, sacrificing, and devoted love for your daughter.
I feel the same about mine.
This one is very hard for me. I believe the words are true, but understanding His unconditional love is very difficult when raised in a home where it was not shown.
It has caused me to work even harder for my kids to get the point. They don’t have to perform for me to be happy or show my love for them.
We certainly have a huge responsibility with our children if we want them to get a glimpse of God’s unconditional love.
Thank you for saying this. Blessings to you for being the kind of parent that was not given to you as an example. Amazing.
Hi Sarah,
I can’t tell you how I look forward to starting my day with a new word from you! I completely look forward to it so thank you, for giving me an encouraging word and thought to think about before my crazy, busy life starts for that day!
This couldn’t come at a better time for me! My daughter, 13 going on 35, and I are going through our growing pains and I have to constantly remind myself of how my mother and I did the same when I was younger. One thing that has really helped put things into prospective for me is that she is not mine…not really. God sent her to me on loan. He loves her so much that he gave HIS life for her, just like he did me. So when she pushes just the right button, and my patience is instantly gone, I have to take a breath and chose my words and actions very carefully! I am working on building the strongest relationship possible with my daughter. She is God sent, she is my angel on loan, she is my rey of sunshine and I am forever greatful and thankful!
And I love her undconditionally, just like He loves her unconditionally, just like He loves me unconditionally!
his love – it helps me love a man who hates me
his love – it helps me be strong for my children
his love – it keeps me going when all I want to do is hide from the world and cry
his love never fails
I’m so so sorry.
But it’s right, “His love never fails.”
Beautiful Sarah!
ohhh God…
I almost cried….
thanks for letting Him using you
to bless others including myself
This makes the mama-dream in me melt…
And then makes the daughter-reality in me rise up.
Thank you
Melt. Strange word, I know… I mean – like – soften – pliable – bendable – weak, but in a “touched” way.
Touched.
huge smile.
I never had that in my mother. And i dont have kids…
But God has been that. He has been the one that is there and loves me more than anyone.
He has shown me love through everything painful in my life…things that i intentionally put on myself and things others did to me. He has loved me into loving those who have abused me. And those who have hurt me.
I just stumbled upon your blog Sarah, and I want to say thank you!