The battle of wills has begun in our house. My son is transitioning from baby to toddler and that means advances in many areas. He crawls and climbs. He’s so close to taking his first steps, and we’re working on communicating with words to get what he wants. He’s grown quite accustomed to simply grunting and pointing and being given whatever he wants because that’s how he originally communicated. He’s beginning to put sounds together to make words to convey his desires but he’s a little impatient and stubborn when it comes to consistently using his new words.
This morning, he proceeded to have an all out kicking and screaming fit in his high chair because he wanted his snack but he refused to use his words to ask for a bite. He eventually had his snack after a little coaching and his temper tantrum subsided. As I lifted him down from his high chair and cradled him in my arms, he immediately cuddled into me because he knows that I love him no matter what. How amazing it is to know that we have a loving heavenly Father who does the same for us. Even on my worst day, when I feel like I’ve done everything wrong, God still loves me and is always there to comfort me.
In his song No Matter What, Jordan St. Cyr shares my heart with his lyrics.
When I think my faith isn’t big enough
To make this mountain move
When my strength’s finally given up
I’ve done all I can do
It’s a too familiar story
But you’ve always been there for me
Even now I trust you’ll get me through
When I’m kicking and screaming
When I struggle believing
God, You are always faithful
No matter what
When my eyes cannot see it
And my heart doesn’t feel it
God, You are always faithful
No matter what
The Bible repeatedly expresses the love of God for his children. God’s love is the love of a parent for a child. My love is a reflection and an outpouring of His great love. I can truly love my son only because I have the love of God living in and through me. Without God, I would be incapable of love because God is love.
“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.”
1 John 4:16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.4.16.NLT
As my son grows up, he will realize that despite my love for him, I’m not perfect. I’ll be there for him as much as humanly possible but there is Someone greater who loves him more that I ever could and will be with him always. I pray every night as I put him down for bed that he will learn to know and trust God for himself when the time comes so that he can experience firsthand God’s perfect love, a love that casts out all fear (I John 4:18) and that will last forever.
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.
Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:16-21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.3.16-21.NLT
Thank You, heavenly Father, for the gift of Your perfect love that allows us to love one another.
Thank You for my son that I can love in a way I never thought was possible!
Thank You for remaining faithful to me no matter what!
I know You will never leave me and that You are my Helper. (Hebrews 13:5-6)
Let Your light shine through me so that everyone I encounter is pointed to You!
In Jesus’s name I pray.
Amen!
Another writing gifted to me by my daughter, Caroline, mother of my first grandson, child of God
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