Encouraging Truth: "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he
loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with
Christ . . . " - Ephesians 2:4-5a
Loving Instruction: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I
have loved you, you also are to love one another." - John 13:34
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It
does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at
wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things." - I Corinthians 13: 4-7
"Young women [are] to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure,
working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands . . . " - Titus 2:4b-5a
Our Reward: ". . . that the word of God may not be reviled." - Titus 2:5b
**Let me clarify by saying that I do love my children. I love them unconditionally and I would never harm them or put them in harm's way. But there are days (and I think you know the ones I'm talking about) where they are just not too pleasant to be around. Hormones are making me angry at the world, and that includes my kids just because they, well, they're kids. They're sinners just like me. So when I'm angry at the world and they disobey, throw fits, whine, poop in their freshly changed diapers, and won't eat their supper, I kind of don't like them. Yes, I feel like a horrible mother for thinking this and even more horrible for
These days are tough ones, caring for so many tiny people. They are people who need Jesus, just like me. They need love, just like me. Amazingly, God loves us, His children. He loved us even "when we were dead in our [sin]" and that is how we are to love our children. They are dead in their sin, need Jesus, and need us to love them with Jesus' love. I am convinced that love is both an emotion and a choice. I love my children even when I don't like them (emotion). But when we read in John 13 that it is a commandment to love and then in I Corinthians what love actually is, I have to conclude that love is also a bunch of actions (choice). I have to choose to be patient and kind. I have to choose to bear all things. I also love the idea that God knows what we women need to hear. Right after He states that young women are to love their husbands and children, He states that we need to have self control. Hhhhhmmmm, hormones anyone? I don't know about you, but when I'm having a hormonal day, things just come out of mouth, mostly not-so-good things, without me even thinking about them. That just can't happen! I do not want God's word to be reviled, for my children to grow up without knowing Christ's love. So when I am feeling angry at the world, or when {PMS, pregnancy, post-partum, nursing, fill in the blank} hormones are getting the better of me, I need to remember that love is a commandment and love is multiple actions, all of which point our children to Christ.
good truth. thank you!
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