Unconditional Love

We have had a lot of snow days around here lately. It has made for some crazy days on the home front. I have been trying to be creative with different activities to really embrace and savor the time with my kids. One snow day morning I decided we would lay out the picnic blanket, make some popcorn, drink hot cocoa, and watch a movie together. Sounds so fun, right?

The Crazy Hour

Before implementing my plan and sharing it with the kids, the crazy hour broke out. Every kid had a behavior issue. There was crying and probably even screaming. Kids were sent to their rooms. You get the picture right?  I thought to myself, “Why should I do something so fun and special with my kids when they are acting like this? They are not obeying. Why should I even bother?”

Conditional vs. Unconditional

God used that moment to speak into my heart. Deep into my heart. He said to me “Aren’t you glad my love isn’t conditional?”

It was a holy moment. An On my knees in gratefulness kind of moment. Wow. My God is not a conditional God and for that, I am so thankful. His love for me doesn’t depend on me. I don’t deserve anything. But my God chose to give me life by sending His only son to die for me.  God chooses to shower me with gifts even though I don’t deserve any. I am thankful my God doesn’t give me what I deserve. My behavior is not where it should be at times because I don’t always obey right away. There are moments of kicking and screaming because I don’t understand. But, my God chooses to love me anyway. Wow.

Choose to love

After that holy moment in the kitchen, I decided to go through with my plan. I can choose to love on my kids even when they don’t obey and choose to do fun things for them even if they reject it. Loving my kids unconditionally is being like God. It was a fun morning. It wasn’t without other crazy moments but my heart was in a much better place.  Thank you, Lord, for speaking into my heart.

Aren’t you glad God’s love is unconditional?

“The Lord said: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”   -Jeremiah 31:3

*Originally published 2/8/14