Unconditional Love

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son ..." (John 3:16)

I heard the news that the son of Indianapolis Colts football coach was found dead in his apartment. Tony Dungy's eldest son James was 18-year-old, 6'7" tall, and attending college in Florida. The cause of death seems to be suicide. Closer to home, a couple in CCCMIW choir lost their daughter (to an accidental choking) a few days ago. How do parents deal with the death of a child?

In our prayer meeting, I was still feeling sad for the coach and the choir members who lost their child when a mom anticipated relief at her child's high school graduation. To that, 92-year old Grandma Chen rebuked, "Once a mother, always a mother. Look, I am still praying for my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren everyday." Grandma Chow added, “With five kids and a husband whose work required him to be away from home, I was often at a loss of how to teach and discipline them. My secret was to turn to God for help. So I led them to sing songs, read the Bible, pray together, and talk every night. That's how I survived as a mother.”

Singing Christmas songs, my sadness was lifted as I turned my attention to the love of our Heavenly Father and the submission of an earthly mother. Being pregnant, the virgin Mary said, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46-47) even though years later she had to watch her son Jesus Christ die on the cross.

Growing up in a traditional Chinese family that favored boys, I was seeking significance through performance and approval. Then on 1/28/89, I experienced unconditional love for the first time in my life when I believed God's Son actually died for my sin. Even to this day, the phrase, "You're worth a Son to God" still warms my heart and brings great comfort. The Bible says, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

In this world, there are always things out of our control. Worry does not change anything. As parents, we can give our kids the gift of love, limits, time, and prayers to influence them positively. We can share our faith.

Copyright © 2005 Parenting ABC