I always reply something to the effect of "Manny, I love you even when you give me your worst behavior." As I make this reply, I can only hope that my imperfect capacity to love models God's love to my children. As humans, it's easy to love when things are going our way. It is much more difficult to love people who are unkind and give us a hard time. The Bible says the following:
You have heard that the law of Moses says, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. (NLT, Matthew 5:43-48)
It's not surprising that Jesus makes these statements. In fact, it is the reason he came to Earth! Despite all of our sin, our baggage, and our ugly behavior, God still loved us to the point of sending His son to pay the price for our sin. He did this so that we can be reconciled with Him! It is only when we tap into God's love, and allow it to flow through us, that we can love even when we don't feel like it!
You have heard that the law of Moses says, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. (NLT, Matthew 5:43-48)
It's not surprising that Jesus makes these statements. In fact, it is the reason he came to Earth! Despite all of our sin, our baggage, and our ugly behavior, God still loved us to the point of sending His son to pay the price for our sin. He did this so that we can be reconciled with Him! It is only when we tap into God's love, and allow it to flow through us, that we can love even when we don't feel like it!
Lord, help me continually tap into your love as I seek to love my children unconditionally.
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