A Mother's Love and Our Call to Love

My memory went back to the post below the other day as I was putting all of my kids in the car. I feel like with each child I’ve said, “How could I love another child as much as I love her (or them)?” Don’t worry, I am not pregnant! This thought passed through my mind again this morning as Morgan was curled up in my lap and talking to me about life…you know “Mommy’s fingers? Mommy’s iPad? Watch Little Einsteins on Mommy’s ipad?” (oh the tech generation)

Original Post from May 2, 2011 - A Mother's Love

My mom told me the other day the when you have your second child your heart expands. You do not love your first child any less, your heart grows to love your second child just as much. She explained to me that each of my children would be different and I would love each differently – I believe her since her daughters are like night and day.

I just couldn’t imagine loving any person more then I love Shelby. This really hit home when I received this an early mother’s day present from her on Saturday.

Let me translate for you…especially since my picture isn’t great.

Across the top it says “Happy Mother’s Day Secretly.”

Then it says

“My heart would break without you”

“The world would be horrid without you”

“Our family would be lonely and hopeless without you”

“Love Shelby You are the best person for us”

I think that JAG helped with spelling, but the feelings are all from my beautiful daughter. I love her!

This post also brings me to the word Love. Just as my heart grew to love each of my children equally, but in different ways, it reminded my of God’s love for us. Also Shelby’s feelings towards me, reminds me of my feelings toward God - World would be horrid without Him, Our family would be lonely and hopeless without Him, His is the best person for us. 

For the past few days there has been a woman (or maybe multiple people or maybe a man - I’m hearing this second hand) standing on the street corner next to where our community lost Deputy Goforth this past weekend.  The person is holding a sign that says, “Love Your Enemy.” 

Starting with Matthew 5:43 it says

“You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.'"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.…

Now, I am not going to sit here and say that this an easy pill to swallow - no siree! This has to be one of the areas I struggle with the most. Now, I love people who are different from me, I love broken people, and I love people who probably wouldn’t feel comfortable sitting on a pew next to me at church (see video below). But to find love for someone who has hurt you, who has taken from you, or in this case has killed someone you love is VERY difficult. I believe as we stand here in our imperfect flesh that the first step in following God’s command is to pray. We will never agree with what was done last week or to us in our lives, but take a moment to pray for your enemy. Pray for a softened heart, for the ability for the person to repent and receive redemption as we all have through Jesus Christ. 

This story also reminds me so much of Terri Roberts, the mother of Charles Roberts who in 2006 shot 10 Amish girls, killing five and severely wounding five others. (you can find Terri’s story here: http://www.joythroughadversity.com/ ) Every time I go through this story I am amazed at the forgiveness the Amish community gave to Terri (and to Charles), but I also find my self looking from Terri’s view point. I could never imagine being that mother, I could never imagine living to see my child do something so horrible (and really pray I never have to). Terri was one of the first faces that popped into my mind after our local tragedy last week. Unfortunately, in Terri’s case her son took his own life that day. I know that it is not easy to love the mother of the man who shot Deputy Goforth as she defends her son publicly (saying he was with her all night), but do know the pain and anguish that woman is feeling as a mother this week and what her new life will bring. I pray that the Lord will surround her with people to help her through this and provide her with sound advice. I also pray that she turns her fears to the Lord in prayer and receive the comfort that only He can give her. 

Also, in line with this topic of Love that has been placed in my mind, this video came across my Facebook feed this morning: 

I guess the point I am trying to make in all of this rambling and rabbit holes is that we are all God’s children, even our enemies. And as much as we love our children, God loves His’ (I’ve actually heard that His love is multiplied so much we couldn’t even imagine the size of the love). I believe just as we would be doing as parent in this situation, God’s heart is also saddened by the events that took place last week. I think He cries with us and He morns with us. 

Please remember we are all people in need of love. Love Your Enemy.