The other day, I was feeding my son his 6am bottle and the thought struck me that parents do a great deal for children that the child is completely unaware of.  In fact, children often overlook parents who are doing their job well, because their needs are met.  Nevertheless, through the course of life, most sons will, at one point in time or another, begin to diverge from the rule and authority of their parents.  More often than not, at one point or another, most sons will even openly reject the authority and wisdom of their parents in an effort to gain a level of autonomy. 

 *Where this kind of even is regrettable, the process of a child gaining independence from his/her parents is a positive life event.  In fact, as a parent, one of my top priorities is to teach my son to not need me.

Having realized this, I was at first grieved at the though of having discipline issues with my son later in life, as well as, having him say hurtful things to me in his effort to find himself independent of me (again this part is not necessary, but if my kid is anything like me, we’re in for some long nights).  But my grief was immediately overcome by thoughts of joy in the realization that this is exactly the process many believers take with their heavenly father. 

If you were anything like me, you were taught to love the Lord from an early age, and that you could trust the Lord in any and all circumstances of life.  Along with that, you were encouraged to follow the standards that were set before you by the scriptures, and taught that the church is the best possible place for you to express your love for the Lord, and spread your spiritual wings. 

However if you are anything like, me, you will may also take pride in yourself, and rebel against what you know to be true.  In fact, there may even be moments where you reject the church, the standards of your faith, and scream bitterly at your God because of how you perceive that He has wronged you. 

In moments like these, It is important to note, that Christ does not love us less. 

I have become more and more aware of this fact ever since my son was born.  I have had to change the most serious of diapers (any diaper you have ever changed pales in comparisons to these), and I have had to rock a crying baby for hours upon hours while his stomach would rumble and groan.  All the while, I never lost love for him.

Even when he becomes more mobile, and begins to grab everything in sight to put in his mouth, I will not love him less.  Or when he begins to tell Krystle and me, “NO,” I will not love him less.  And even when he steals my car and drives he and his fiends around town for less than 5 minutes only to be caught by his mother the instant he pulls back up to the house…I will not love him less. 

Not even when he sits in my home and refuses to speak to me, will I love him less. 

My love for Rutledge is not contingent on his willingness to follow my direction, nor is my God’s love for me contingent on the things I do. 

He will never stop loving me, and I will never stop loving my son…I can make that statement, because He has shown me that it is possible.