Hadley's going to be a big sister soon. When I first heard the news, I wondered how I could ever love another grandchild as much as I love Hadley, but then I realized, he already has a place in my heart. He's already loved, and the love I have for him isn't taking away from the love I have for his big sister. My "love capacity" is simply increasing; I have room and space for more! These grandchildren - however many I am blessed to have - will all be my favorites and will have all my love.
I think our capacity to love is a gift from God. I can only imagine how much God loves each of us. He doesn't panic every time another one of us is born, wondering if He has enough love to go around; He doesn't wonder if He can love me as much as He loves someone else. The love God has for each of us is unlimited, it is unconditional, and it's never-failing. He knows us from our very beginning, He's wildly in love with us, and He wants only His best for us.
A familiar verse in the Bible says it like this, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16; I John 3:16). This gift is for each of us; no one is left out. His gift of love doesn't run dry; He has an unlimited supply. Because He loves us, we are his children (I John 3:1), and we have life through Him (I John 4:9). God loves us so much that He gave his son as a sacrifice for us that we might be restored into relationship with Him (I John 4:10). He made His love for us "real" in the gift He gave: "But God demonstrates his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). We don't have to worry about whether or not God will stop loving us. Nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:38-39).
As we enter the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons, we will have gift giving on our minds. The greatest gift that we can extend to another person is the gift of love. That may mean we learn to love ourselves and accept God's love for us. It may mean showing love to someone difficult to love or someone we don't even know. The bottom line is this - God gave us the capacity to love others so we can show (and know) unlimited love for Him, for others, and even for ourselves.
No Greater Love by Rachel Lampa
Thank you, Lord, for loving us unconditionally and without reservation. Please help us to learn to love as You love and to share the love You have given us with others. Help us to be generous in demonstrating your love.
