They get older and more active, AKA destructive. The day ends and you collapse from exhaustion after chasing her from here to there. Does she have a death wish? She is like the dodos from Ice Age. "Ooh pointy object. Must be a nose picker." "Don't mind me, just practicing my base jumping skills off the piano!" "Stairs plus wagon equal awesome ride, man."
I know I have always had crazy dreams of doing stunts but did my children have to be born with that dash of insanity?
Recently, I fell down the stairs to the basement. I can trip over air so it was not particularly surprising that my wife showed no sympathy. It hurt! My hips, my back, my shoulders all hurt and they hurt the next day. My youngest child bounced down some stone stairs not to long ago, also. It sounded really painful! She cried as one would expect but half an hour later she was fine. If I miss a step coming down the stairs it hurts the next day but my kids can head butt each other and keep on playing.
Children are truly resilient and not just to physical pain.
My grandpa has a commanding voice. Despite being an angel, I have been on the receiving end a few times. It cut through me like a flame thrower through ice cream. I have discovered I have that voice too. Unfortunately, my oldest child has experienced it. That instant look of hurt as I blow my top cuts deep. I instantly regret it.
After calming down I go and apologize. Her response, "Daddy, you made me sad, I love you." It never gets old.
"Daddy, I love you." Children are the closest thing to unconditional love that we experience outside of God.
I do not understand the psychology behind it. Maybe they have not had a chance to be calloused by life. Whatever it is, I want it. Even when I am hurt deeply I want to be able to say, "I forgive you" and let it go. I do not want to carry around bitterness and pain. It is not easy, though.
How much more enjoyable would life be if we did not let all kinds of junk pile on us? Kids see a world of endless wonder. We see all the ways that our children could get hurt no matter how big or small. We stay angry for hours after someone cuts us off in traffic. We bear grudges against our enemies long after we should have forgotten.
But a child says, "I love you."
God says I love you even while we are hurting him. I have never heard my wife say, "I know you are being dishonest but I love you." It does not make sense. "While we were still sinners Christ died for us."
How can I live that kind of love? How can I shrug off the bumps and bruises and let go of past hurts and say, "God made you. You are a beautiful creation. I love you."
One thing I know, it cannot be done without God. Let us discuss it. What helps you, the reader, show love even when it does not make sense? What helps you demonstrate the resilience of a child. Leave your comments below and thanks for reading.
Here's a little song to enjoy while you contemplate God's love.
http://youtu.be/5PcXd2ufFas
