Unconditional Love

Hugs, hand prints, and homemade cards...kisses and coupons for more hugs, back rubs, helping hands with a smile. What a sweet Mother's Day! These days are like snowflakes...each one unique, never to be equaled. My boys are reaching an age where they have their own ideas, and they enjoy being creative. I love to see what comes out of their imaginations, without any help from anyone. To Josh, I am the "best Mom in the whole wide world", and Jonathan loves me "so so much" and he "loves me like a flower"...and with the way that boy loves flowers, that's saying a bunch!

Just as we have unconditional love for our children, they have the same love for us. I am definitely not a Supermom. I have moments when I yell, and probably exasperate my children with all my "pick up this" and "clean that", but there is no doubt in my childrens' minds that they are loved immensely. When it comes right down to it, even with the occasional craziness in our home, and the debates on what is acceptable for attitudes and actions, and after all is said and done, there is so much love. I am so very thankful that I had parents that were free to express their love towards me, and told me often that they were proud of me. I never felt like I was a burden on my parents, or in the way, even with all eight kids romping around. When I think back over the years as a child in my parents' home, the sweet, special times shine so bright in my memory. Sure, there were times of stress and conflict as there is in any home where people are close to each other, but those times have faded into an almost non-existent realm. I guess it's all in what we choose to remember, and being that there were innumerable good times, and only a handful of difficult ones, it's easy to dwell on the good!

For Mother's Day, I bought my husband a present, because if it weren't for him and the Lord, I wouldn't have the privilege of all this love that has been lavished on me! So I found this book entitled "Raising a Modern-Day Knight". It's a focus on the family book, and he's really enjoying it. Luis and I had a very different childhood. I firmly believe that his upbringing was very instrumental in bringing him to the feet of Jesus. The Lord knows our spirit, and knows what each of us need to experience to return to Him. His parents did the best they knew how to do, and he is thankful for them, and always knew that his parents loved him, even if they could not express it openly. They both had an alcohol problem, and fighting was the norm instead of the exception. He grew up with a lot of strife all around him, and felt "on his own" at an early age. I looked up the meaning of Luis's name on line the other day. Luis means "famous warrior", and Fernando means "daring, adventurous".   I'm sure his mother had no idea the meaning of her middle son's name, but it fits him perfectly. Luis has always had drive and motivation. He has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. He ran his own store out of his Mom's garage when he was young. At age 14, he ran away from home and travelled by train from his town in the mountains between Guadalajara and Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, all the way to Huntington Park, California where his Uncle Hector lived. As a mother, whenever I hear this story, my heart sinks. I can't imagine one of my children running off. In my limited thinking, I pray that never happens. But I realize fully that these "trips" to LA changed my husbands life forever, and made him the man, and the Christian that he is today. One of my favorite quotes is "Nothing is ever wasted". I have to remember when I pray for my children, not to pray for the easy life, or the problem free life, but to pray for the life that will bring them so very close to the Lord. That is NOT easy.

So this Mother's Day was wonderful and reflective. Thank you, Lord for the opportunity to raise the children you have given us. I know they are yours, first, and a special gift from you to my husband and I. Continue to teach us, Lord, how to raise our children so they will follow you sincerely, with their whole hearts. As much as I strive to be the perfect parent, I acknowledge that you, Lord, are the only perfect parent, and I lean on your wisdom, and strength. Thank you for giving me unconditional love, even when I didn't deserve it, and teaching me how to extend that unconditional love to my precious little ones.