I was struck by a passage of scripture today and by Pastor Steven Furtick’s (Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC) message this week about parenthood and my role in my son’s life.  The scripture is Mark 1: 9-11:

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.

Before Jesus ever began his ministry on earth; before he ever gave a sermon or performed a miracle, his father made sure everyone knew that this is HIS SON, whom HE LOVES, and the he is WELL PLEASED with him.  If you are a parent, then you know that you have never loved anything more than your child - sometimes I wonder where all of that love came from that I feel for Cole.  Make sure you tell your children (and everyone else for that matter) that you love your kids, you are proud of them, and nothing they do can change that.  It is so important that your kids don’t feel like they have to prove themselves to you in order to earn your love.

Follow the Master’s example and love your kids unconditionally, and never make them prove anything to you to earn your love.