Christian Endeavour

Dads may forget our birthday, and some even struggle to remember how old we are, but mothers never forget. They knew us from our first stirrings within them before we were born. They remember the moment when, in pain, they gave us life. They can recall all the little incidents as we grew up. So we are always their child. But that makes them protective of us. They are there when we need them. They give us what we need to help us, rather than what we want. They point us in the right direction. They support us as we try to do things and encourage us in our ambitions. They understand us better than we understand ourselves and feel the pain of our failures and troubles. They give us their love unconditionally, whether we deserve it or not, because we are always their child. Unfortunately, we often fail to realise all this as we try to grow up, perhaps resentful that our mother still looks on us as their ‘child’, no matter how old we may be. It is not that she doesn’t want us to grow up but that we are precious to her because she has given us life and wants the best for us. However, we don’t realise how precious our mother is until she is no longer there to give us her love and support. It is significant that all I have said about the virtues of a good mother can also be seen in the character of God (even though we normally refer to Him in prayer as ‘Our Father …’). He is there for us when we need Him and will listen when we talk to Him. He will give us what we need rather than what we desire for He wants the best for us. If we listen to the Holy Spirit, He points us in the right direction. He will support us as we try to do the right things. He understands us better than we understand ourselves and feels the pain of our failings and troubles. He gives us His unconditional love, whether we deserve it or not.  And why? Because we are His children! All He asks is that we make the choice to become part of His family again, and live as part of His family, for then He says, ‘You will be My sons and daughters’. That is the privilege of being children of the Kingdom of God. For God to call you His child is something which is priceless. We shouldn’t want to grow up so much that we want to put ourselves beyond that.

The problem with ‘love’ is that, although everyone has an idea of what they mean by it, it is so difficult to define in concrete terms. It is indescribable and undefinable. You can feel it but can’t touch it. You can give it to someone but can’t demand it from them. You can see its amazing effect but cannot package it as a product. It can bring complete strangers together but lack of it can destroy families. You want it to be as strong and enduring as time itself but the wrong word or the wayward look can shatter it in an instant. The repeated refrain of the Beatles song, ‘Love, love, love...love is all you need’ points to a fundamental truth but doesn’t really get us close to what love is. The truth is that, if everybody was loving and kind, the world would be a much better place. The reality is that the only kind of love which can achieve that is not the romantic love of Valentine’s Day, a love often subject to the twists and turns of emotion and physical attraction. Jesus had a good deal to say about the love which endures and is wholly positive. When asked what was the greatest principle by which to live, He replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Matthew 22.37-38). Jesus went on to explain how encompassing this love should be in His story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10.29-37) and, perhaps more directly, when He said ‘Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you’ (Luke 6.27-28). Now that is a very different kind of love to that which Valentine’s Day evokes, but it is the kind of love which will ensure that the love signified by cards and flowers on February 14 th will last for a lifetime of partnership – treating others as you would treat yourself or in the way you would wish them to treat you, forgiving offences, offering only good and upholding others in prayer. Loving means the giving of love even in the most extreme of circumstances, as Jesus did on the Cross. It is significant that, very early in His ministry, Jesus declared, ‘God so loved the world (you and I) that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3.16).  Now that is love! All the love you need!