Unconditional Love

Here is a recent conversation with my four year old:

J: "Mommy, I love daddy, I love my brother, I love my sister, but I don't love you."
Me: "That doesn't change anything. I am still your mommy, I still love you, and I will always love you."
J: "I love you, mommy."

I may have been offended if my son said that a year ago. This was not said in the middle of an argument. He had put some thought into what he said and decided to see what my response would be. I took it as an opportunity to show him that I will always love him, regardless of whether he loves me back. This is important to me, because I want to raise a child who chooses to love God. God desires that we show Him love. Still, whether we love Him or not doesn't change the fact that He loves us and that He will always love us. We don't earn it, we don't deserve it, it is not forced upon us -- it is ours to receive.

"We love, because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19