Life in a competitive culture takes quite an effort. Choices seem to increase at an unbelievable pace. There seem to be more choices today than when I growing up, which has only increased the reality that scheduling is more of an art than a science. I know a busy family with three children and two parents. The youngest daughter is not yet in middle school but is as busy as her older sister who is. She texted her dad last week late in the afternoon to ask why he hadn’t answered her texts. He said he had been in meetings and left his phone in his office. She said she needed a ride home from soccer but no one would answer her calls. Her dad told her she had not told him she needed a ride, as another parent had taken her to practice. His daughter said her brother was ignoring her texts too. Her dad reminded her he was at high school soccer practice. She asked why Mom didn’t respond and he told her she was at a conference and likely had her phone off. He told her he would leave work a little early and would pick her up. He reminded her how important it was to tell Mom and Dad ahead of time of things like being picked up from soccer. The point was made and life moved on.
As the father related this story to me I was struck by how familiar that sounded from my own life many years back when I was in the same position with busy kids. Then he shared a poignant conclusion to that late afternoon dilemma. After dinner his daughter asked if he was ever tired of parenting. The question itself tells you something about their family dynamics and the awareness of each other’s needs. His answer was priceless. He said, “I will never be tired of being your parent, but for the rest of the night I am done parenting.”
Anyone can be a biological parent, but to be a real parent takes love, sacrifice, and surrender. This father and daughter have a relationship built on love and the dad made certain his daughter heard that his love was never to be doubted. None of us is prefect and there will always be disappointments and misunderstandings. But when love is the flavor of the day and the color of a relationship, anything that happens is blanketed with the assurance of such gifts. It’s like God’s love for us. We exist only because of God’s gift of creation and being loved by God is a relationship which changes us forever. When we hear and feel the warmth of God’s love there is nothing we cannot face without remembering we are never alone and always loved. Even our questions, doubts, and fears are changed when we share them with the God who loves us no matter what and will always be there for us. Does God love us no matter what? That is one question that, by grace, is answered before even asked. And if asked, the answer will always be the same. Yes!