The heart of a mother never changes. It starts the day she finds out she is carrying around another soul inside of her (or the day she picks up her adopted child) and it continues on the rest of her life. She loves that little being more than her own life. She nurtures, nourishes, protects and provides for that being. She cannot, should she even desire to, turn off those traits when that little being becomes full grown. She longs to be part of that life and to help that life fulfill his/her God-given potential. But alas, the world as it is today is not conducive to a life intertwined. Our children grow up to live as independent a life as possible, moving from place to place, separated, self-reliant and unconnected. And ironically, we encouraged them to do so. We cheered them on when they learned to walk, first rode a bike, went on a sleepover, learned how to drive and then went away to college. What were we thinking? If I could do it all over I wouldn't let them do any of those things. Well, that's probably not true. Okay, it's not true at all. Sigh.
So this morning I went on my daily walk only to witness two little children at the end of their driveway waiting for the school bus to pick them up. Why did it have to be a little first grade girl and her big brother probably in the 3rd or 4th grade? Why did it remind me of my two babies waiting for the bus together (who are now 30 and 33 yrs old!)? And why did I start bawling like a fool all the way home (and praying no one saw me)? Why do I miss my children so much and why do I hate living far enough away from them that I can't be part of their lives on a daily/weekly basis? Why does it hurt some days beyond what I think I can bear?
Because the heart of a mother never changes.
This reminded me of another heart that is filled with unconditional love for His children. And that no matter how much my heart aches over the separation between myself and my children, it's only a fraction of what God feels being separated from His children. His heart ached so much He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to be the sacrificial Lamb so that we could once again come home to Him. And He waits, patiently, for every one of His children to make that journey - not willing to cut the time short and miss even one of His own. Praise the Lord, hallelujah!!! That's the heart of our Father - and it never changes.
So this morning I went on my daily walk only to witness two little children at the end of their driveway waiting for the school bus to pick them up. Why did it have to be a little first grade girl and her big brother probably in the 3rd or 4th grade? Why did it remind me of my two babies waiting for the bus together (who are now 30 and 33 yrs old!)? And why did I start bawling like a fool all the way home (and praying no one saw me)? Why do I miss my children so much and why do I hate living far enough away from them that I can't be part of their lives on a daily/weekly basis? Why does it hurt some days beyond what I think I can bear?
Because the heart of a mother never changes.
This reminded me of another heart that is filled with unconditional love for His children. And that no matter how much my heart aches over the separation between myself and my children, it's only a fraction of what God feels being separated from His children. His heart ached so much He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to be the sacrificial Lamb so that we could once again come home to Him. And He waits, patiently, for every one of His children to make that journey - not willing to cut the time short and miss even one of His own. Praise the Lord, hallelujah!!! That's the heart of our Father - and it never changes.
