UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
As Mother’s Day wrapped up last week, my dad and I were talking about how big of an impact our mom’s played in our life (this is his first mother’s day without his mom) and how important a mom’s love is for our growth in life.
My dad and I both began to talk about stories from our past and came to a conclusion they display an unconditional love that only a mother can provide to her kids.
Think about it, don’t you remember those awkward middle school times when your mom was the only one telling you how cute you were?
We both started sharing funny stories about how our mothers displayed their unconditional love for us during those years. The years when we knew we were ugly and awkward, had that brutal haircut, or our teeth were going all over the place, yet they still told us every day we were the cutest son and they wouldn’t change a thing about us.
That comforting feeling you have when you get positive affirmation from your mother is because you know how genuine, deep down, and pure her love is.
When you think about moms in this world, they wear all kinds of titles for their family:
Chef (the best)
Nurse
Teacher
Uber driver
Maid
Shopper
Comforter
Trip planner
Shopper
Discipliner (the worst)
Yes, believe it or not, both of our mothers used solid discipline on us for correction.
It is funny to see the similarities between both of our childhood whipping stories… We both recall overreacting and saying, “OUCH” before it even hurt to try and get them to feel bad and stop a few smacks short.
I think we all can agree we DID NOT deserve some of those whippings!
But when you look at the root of most of our discipline, it all comes down to the unconditional love and expectations our moms have for us. They want us to stay on a straight and narrow path on this thing called “Life”.
Why unconditional love?
Unconditional: (adj) not limited by conditions
A love SO great it is not limited by what you do, say or think.
My dad and I both were fortunate to have moms that display this love no matter what! Of course, we both disappointed our mothers at times, but we both remember the countless times we fell short in life and came home to a mom that is just as heartbroken as we were.
As I look at my life and how important my mom is in my life, it is crazy to think the same, genuine love is available for me from God.
I asked my mom to describe the feeling of love for your kid for the first time:
“I can’t explain the love, I really can’t. The moment I was captivated was when I felt you kick for the first time. And when you were finally born, the pain I just endured seemed so distant because of the instant connection we had when I get to hold you. And when you were a little boy, you would stop what you were doing and say, ‘momma, I love you!’” (Tell your momma that you love her)
All these are probably similar for all the moms out there, God even says, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne” Isaiah 49:15.
God designed it this way, a connection between mother and son that is UNBREAKABLE. Think of the time that your mom made you the MOST happy…
That same feeling is available to YOU from God.
HOW?
Isaiah 66:13 – As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.
People see God as distant, not approachable, or even too big to comprehend, but God’s love is tangible, relatable, and intimate.
If our mom’s love is unbreakable, then why do we separate ourselves from God’s love?
My dad and I both find so many qualities in our moms that we find in our relationship with God.
I want to challenge you to not view God so distant, but as someone that you can approach and ask for guidance, love, fullness, just as you would your mom.
At the end of the day, we know our identity is IN Christ… so who better to ask than the one who created us?
So I ask the question again: Why unconditional?
Because God has a love SO great it is not limited by what you do, say, or think.
Jeremiah 31:3 – “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”