Steadfast Love

I'm joining Mattie and many other wonderful bloggers in writing a post about love for the month of February. Mattie will be leaving a link every day to the post on love so stop by her blog and check it out. She'll also be holding some giveaways this month.

"The love of a true mother comes nearer to being like the love of God than any other kind of love." -Joseph F. Smith

Growing up, I loved my mother (and still do, of course). My sister and I had the privilege of having a mother who stayed at home. She was there when we left for school and there when we came home. She drove us around from here to there, played games with us, and cheered us on loudly at games (and so much more!). She did so much for us. I have no doubt that while being our biggest advocate in the bleachers, she was also our biggest advocate to God. I'm sure she spent countless hours on her knees praying for us, especially as teenagers and young adults.

Sometimes I didn't get my mom. Sometimes I thought she was unfair, mean, and even stupid. I was ready to break away and find my own place in the world and she let me. I've made mistakes-big ones-but her love has never wavered. I don't think there's anything that I could do that would change that. My mom's love for me is just a glimpse of God's love for me.

I remember the moment I saw the little flicker on the ultrasound screen of my own baby. My heart grew with a love I had never experienced. As my little baby grew within me that love within my heart also grew. Then I gave birth and held my child in my arms. Every fiber within my being loved that child and would do anything to protect her. I finally understood my mom and I had a new appreciation for her and a new understanding of God. The love of a mother, like God's love, knows no limits.

My love for my children, whether on earth or in Heaven, is deep and will never fade. My children on earth will grow and make mistakes. They will test my patience and make me angry. But my love for them surpasses it all. I believe that God's love for us is much deeper than the love a mother has for her child-deeper than we can fathom. Can you grasp a love that deep? God's love is the one true love. It is steadfast and strong and cannot be broken, shaken, or changed by anything that we do. We don't deserve God's love but He gives it to us freely.

I think God took some of His own love and placed it into the heart of a mother. A love that is steadfast from the very beginning.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
1 Chronicles 16:34

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I have something I'd like to give away in honor of both a mother's love and God's love. It is a sterling silver necklace with white sapphires arranged in the shape of an infinity symbol-just like the infinite love of a mother and God. I hope that whoever wears this necklace is reminded of a love that never ends.

To enter just leave a '♥' somewhere in your comment. That's it! I'll keep this giveaway open until Valentine's Day, when the winner will be announced.