When I was pregnant with Madeleine I received this little "Snow Babies" box from the pastor's wife at our church. I didn't know Lisa as well as I have come to know her - and I don't know her as much as I'd like to one day...
But the profoundness of the gift she gave me has touched my life considerably.
It was just a cute little figurine when I first received it - I thought it was neat that it said "Unconditional Love," but I didn't really give it much thought.
For reasons that I won't go into here - most who are close to me will know what I'm referring to - this little icon has come to mean a whole lot more to me in the last few years.
As parents we are given one of life's most important responsibilities - to love our children unconditionally.
They may stray - they may do things that we don't like or don't approve of - but we are still called to love them no matter what.
I am reminded every day that God is a god of unconditional love - of forgiveness and grace.
Whether it's in the quiet moments of snuggling with Maddie and Wyatt early in the morning - when my heart swells with such love for them - or the humbling moments when I discipline Wyatt and see Maddie comforting him because no matter how much he annoys her she loves him with a fierceness I truly understand now.
There are things in life that I will never understand - never be able to wrap my head around. There are questions that I have that will remain unanswered until the day I can ask God and Jesus...
But one thing I understand and practice in my life is the concept of unconditional love - there is nothing either of my children or any future children could do to separate them from my love.
To do so would also separate me from God as I would no longer be obeying his word for parents to love their children.
So each time I pass by this little baby and her box of unconditional love I am thankful for the reminder not only of my unconditional love for my children, but also for the unconditional love of a Savior who, despite my flaws, loves me unconditionally.
And my prayer for all who are parents - and really anyone - is that they would also show unconditional love for their children - just as Christ loves us unconditionally.
