Why does God referrer to his love for us like a parent? “Abba Father” means daddy. And why is it that the moment we first look on our child we understand. We get a glimpse of His goodness and grace… We get a peek at His unconditional Love. We start to understand the meaning of kindness, patients, self control, Joy, and servant hood.
As I watch my four children grow, I realize we are born lazy and selfish. My one year old has discovered the word “first”! As My husband and I unbuckle our boys from the back seat, they start yelling “First…I’m First” Every morning I think, ‘How do I teach them the Love of Christ and His selflessness. When will they understand to be first you must be last and to lead you must serve.’
There is something miraculous that happens when you become a parent. It feels like a leap closer to God and understanding. An “Ah Ha!” You start living your life the opposite way from your past. Every decision is to make your children’s life better; even if it means giving up yourself. The decisions we make sometimes hurt us deeply, but they are decisions we do to keep our children safe, healthy and most of all we do it in hopes they will see Jesus in us! We work harder than we ever thought we could. We physically drain ourselves to ensure their well being. We freeze on that cold winter morning to warm up the car just so our babies don’t shiver. When they hurt, our hearts break and when they fear we will move any mountain, cross any boundary just to comfort them and tell them “momma’s here, everything is ok.”
Middle of the night, like clockwork, one of my children starts crying for us. Our laziness and selfishness is out the window and we leap to the cause. We scare off monster and fight off dragons while losing the last two hours of sleep before the morning rush starts.
God is full of Grace! He allows us to get a glimpse of his love for us through our children and our unconditional love for them. He allows us to break free, if only in spurts, the chains sin has locked us up in; the chains of selfishness and laziness.
