When he was at table with them, he took the bread. He blessed the bread, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him!(Luke 24:13-35)

Thursday, November 8, 2018

A Father's (and Grandfather's) Love is Boundless











 

One of the blessings God has given me in my newly-retired life is an “awakening” of my soul to the wonders of His unlimited and merciful love for His children.

A few years ago, one of my nephews posted a simple but profound statement that I’ve been thinking about the last couple of days after the birth of my 3rd grandchild, Paloma. “If we all give more to each other, we all end up with more for ourselves.”

I think a simpler way to put Alex’s statement is that love is never divided, only multiplied.

When Marilyn told me that she was pregnant with our first child, I was extremely worried. I didn’t know anything about raising a child! All that worry I went through vanished when I was in the delivery room, as I watched Alicia’s face appear and she looked right at me!  At that moment, I realized two things:  I learned what paternal love is all about—it’s an unconditional, no-holds-barred head-over-heels love with a built-in confidence in oneself. Nothing can take it away. And I realized that—biology aside—God creates children and presents them to loving parents, so they can experience the type of love He has for each of us!

A couple of years later, Marilyn told me we were going to have another “little one”.  My worry this time was different! I love Alicia with all my being, how could I ever love another child so much? Would I have to “split” my love between them?  Again, I didn’t have to worry. The minute Sarah was born, God gave me the grace to multiply my paternal love. I love each of my daughters the same—boundlessly, the same way our Heavenly Father loves us.
This same grace of paternal love was multiplied in my heart of soul for each of my granddaughters; Lily, then Josephine, and now Paloma. 

When God gives us children and grandchildren, He is putting trust in us to show them His love and to guide them on their own journeys towards an everlasting life with Him.  I, for one, plan to keep that trust.

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