Parenting in a Changing World -

Part 3: The Principle of Unconditional Love

How to construct the ultimate foundation for a blessed life.

In Part 1 we discussed the myth of the perfect parent. In Part 2 we talked about the importance of setting a standard - of ensuring that we transfer integrity and uprightness to our children.

To continue, the next principle upon which every parent must stand is the principle of unconditional love. Without it, fear takes dominion. With it, confidence and strength of spirit arise. To accomplish this task, to cultivate in our children the knowing that they are loved unconditionally, we must first remember that we are not alone. In addition to heavenly support, we are also given assistance from people in our midst. The following true story illustrates this simple truth:

He was 15 and all smiles as he tucked his learner's permit into the visor and slid behind the wheel of the Classic Oldsmobile Cutlass. He looked over at his 76 year-old grandmother, her frail body strapped into the passenger seat.  Her seasoned face glowed with excitement as she encouraged her grandson to start the engine and put her car in reverse. "Let's go mud riding," she said with a twinkle in her eye. And they did, again, again, and again.

 

The next fall, I watched her support her grandson when he wanted to be an astronaut. Six months later when he wanted to be a nurse, she thought that was equally wonderful.

 

Dorothy Naomi. Giver of advice. Lover of grandchildren.  Believer in all dreams. To her, no goal was ever out of reach. From her, I learned to believe in the hopes and dreams of my own young children, to believe in their every hope, and in their every dream.

We serve a God who believes in us, too, who provides us with hopes and dreams, and who encourages us along the way. He has confidence in us, gives us purpose, and supports us with lasting peace. Because of Jesus, God loves us without question and without condition. And it is in unconditional love that we are forgiven, protected, guided, and provided wisdom. When we stand in the presence of God, we find total acceptance.

To share this truth with our children, to love our children as He loves us, to demonstrate to them the unfailing mercy of God, is to give them life. More than this we cannot give. More than this we do not require.

There is no better truth to pass on to the next generation. To be loved, in spite of who we are and what we do is the ultimate truth, and the ultimate foundation for a blessed life.

The Holy Bible, The New Testament

The Gospel of John, Chapter 3: Verse 16

The Gospel of John, Chapter 16: Verse 27