I love her, too. I hear the words coming out of my mouth yet I know it is coming from Him. It is coming from somewhere deep with in me. I knew in that moment that this conversation was going to be tough.
My kids were fighting... again. Seems like lately they just can't get along. The age difference, plus a few dozen other things can make them drive each other crazy.
My son comes in, begins to tell me what his sister has done wrong to him and then tells me what I need to do about it. I look at him and at the moment all I can tell him is "I love her, too".
This seems to pain him. When I spoke the words at first I was not even sure why they were the ones that came out.
That is when I say it again... I love her, too. This is when I feel it. These words convict me.
I went on to tell my son that I was his mom. I was her mom. I was on her team. I was on his team. I was for her. I was for him. I loved them both. It pained me to see them fighting, hurting each other, and seeing the enemy twist things to make them both say and do things that were not right. In this tough moment of his life; I loved him very much. I also loved her very much.
My son looked at me and said well she hurt me. I apologized to him that she had hurt him, and that it hurt me when she hurts him but I needed him to understand that I still love her. That nothing that he or she did would make me stop loving either one of them. I know he wanted me to pick a side. My heart could not do that. I heard God whisper "I can't either".
We continued to talk and I made my little girl apologize to my son. Their relationship is restored. This post doesn't end there.
Ringing in my head the rest of the day were the words I love her, too. My heart grieved. How many times had I been to my Heavenly Father to complain or vent about how he or she had hurt me? How many times had I stated my case to him and asked what did he plan to do about this or that situation?! How many times had I stood there with my hands on my hip and asked him what are you going to do about this person?! Wondering who's side is he on? How many times had I taken one of his own daughter or son to him for punishment? How many times had I been taken to him?
I wonder how many times he had been whispering to me that he loved her, too? How many times had he loving said I love him too?
This afternoon I heard it. Loud and clear. Now hear me out- it doesn't mean that God won't have consequences for our actions or theirs.
It won't mean that he won't ask us to forgive people or love people. Or that he won't ask for us to give them grace. What I am saying is we need to remember he is their father too and He loves them too.
I sat down and cried. Of course he loves them, too. They are called. They are chosen. They are his children. We are all on the same team. He is for all of us. He will never leave any of his children.
He loves her, too.
See lately I had forgotten that. It is easy to forget that when walking out a hurt or wound. It is easy to forget that when you are hurt by someone who you think should be the last person in the world to hurt you. My son didn't think his own sister would hurt him. I didn't think a family member or good friend or someone from church would hurt me, but it happens.
Whether it is fresh hurt or old hurt, sometimes you just want to see that person face the music. Apologize. Have a time out. Or consequence. Or something.
My son wasn't looking for my daughter to be booted from the family (well maybe he was) but he was wanting some one to notice, take his side, and maybe see some justice. He was wanting his mom to defend him, which I did do, but I felt it was important for him to realize that I still loved her, too. Regardless of her actions, or his actions: I have to defend both of them, protect both of them and correct both of them. It was important for me to realize that, too.
Your Heavenly Father is doing the same. He is the best parent. He is not going to stop loving them and psst he is not going to stop loving you either. So you may be upset with someone or maybe you upset someone else...
Just remember He loves her, too.