Step 7: Give Unconditional Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.
Love is described as being patient, kind, truthful, unselfish, trusting, believing, hopeful, and enduring. It is not jealous, boastful, arrogant, rude, selfish, or angry. True love never fails. The description perfectly fits God's love toward us, and should be the way we love each other and God. This is true also of our children.
The Bible says this unconditional love is more important than everything else. Only love is eternal, since love will be the basis of eternal life. In fact, when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He said, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND." (Matthew 22:37) He then added that the second most important law was "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Jesus said that the entire law was dependent upon these two commandments.
Even with all of the steps presented in this lesson, it is still possible that your children will make choices contrary to what they have been taught. The bottom line is they are humans replete with the free will given to them by God. But, as parents, we must provide unconditional love even in the midst of their rebellion, miss-steps, and poor choices.
Much like the love God has for His children, we must step back and allow our children to make their choices, but we must never withdraw the love that we have for them . It is this love along with the love of God that can ultimately save them from themselves.
No comments:
Post a Comment