no matter what...

I recently sat down and wrote the words of encouragement that Ashlyn will read from Chris and me when she graduates from fifth grade in June.  As I composed the "Fifth Grade Love Line" I was struck by the fact that very soon my little girl is going to be in middle school.  I know it will be in just the blink of an eye before she is graduating from eighth grade and heading off to high school.

Our children grow up so quickly.  I want to cherish every moment with them.  I want them to look back on their childhood and the memories that we made with fondness.  Not because everything was perfect, because I am here to tell you that it is not.  We disagree, we argue, we irritate each other, we get our feelings hurt and we have to apologize to each other on a regular basis.  On the other hand we enjoy spending time together, we talk, we play and we laugh.  What I really want them to remember is that even when times were hard, even when we were facing trials, and hurdles, and even mountains, that they had a place of refuge where they could feel safe.  That they had a home with loving parents who they could come to with anything.  That they wouldn't feel judged but that they would know, above all else, that they are loved.  Unconditionally.

I sat down with Ashlyn the other night and shared these exact words.  I have said them many times before and I will continue to say them until my children know this truth deep down in their core: that I love them.  That love means that even when they make mistakes, and they will, I will still love them.  That even if they fail, I will still love them.  That even if I am disappointed in a bad choice that they may have made, I will still love them.  Because that is exactly how God loves me.  And shouldn't I return that unconditional love to those in my life?  I make bad choices all.  the.  time.  Yet God still gives me grace.  He never stops loving me.  Jesus made that love possible.  So now when God looks at me He doesn't seem my ugliness and sin.  He sees Jesus as He intercedes for me and says that my ugliness and sin has been wiped away.

I read a blog post written by one of my favorite bloggers Flower Patch Farmgirl that sums up how we should love our children and how God loves us:

"I'm loved with unflinching fierceness, chosen for keeps, not in spite of my brokenness, but because of it. His grace is sufficient for my stupidity and my drama."--Shannan Martin

I think she nailed it.

A few months back I purchased a cuff bracelet from Farmgirl Paints.  (hmmm...two "farmgirls" mentioned in one post - didn't plan on that when I sat down to write)

I loved her leather cuffs from the moment I saw them.  I wanted one that was inscribed with words that really meant something to me.  After thinking it over for a while I realized what I should get...

It may not seem like much but it covers a number of things....

God is faithful...no matter what.

I will be thankful...no matter what.

I am loved...no matter what.

I will love...no matter what.

God has a plan for me...no matter what.

He will provide...no matter what.

He will overcome...no matter what.

The list could go on and on.  I wear my bracelet every day now so that if my faith is shaken I will remember that I am loved, no matter what, by a God who died to save me.

Therefore I hope and pray that my children know, without a doubt, that no matter where they are, no matter what they have done, that I love them. 

Always. 

No matter what.