I don’t have anything else to give.

I said or thought this more times than I can remember when our children lived at home. Have you ever noticed that when we’re training our child, whether it’s to potty or obey a house rule, we’re the ones who hits the wall, not our trainee?

We are not created with a limitless reservoir of love inside. God IS the reservoir.

“God is love.” (1 John 4.8b)

We love our child deeply, so we generously pour out all that we have, as we teach, encourage, help, listen, hug, and share time. Yet we empty as we pour. Hard days or seasons generate disappointment, discouragement, disobedience, and hurt. We drain as we experience the hard.

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4.16)

We have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.

As we grow to know God, He grows our understanding of how great His love is for us. We are drawn to His reservoir. It’s humbling to recognize how quickly we empty, yet it’s a relief to discover that we are made for an amazing love relationship with God. We’re made to be loved by Him. AND, as moms, we are privileged to be His vessels to reflect and give His love to our child.

When we draw deeply from the reservoir of God’s love for us, we can love our child the way he needs to be loved.

Whether we’re physically exhausted or emotionally drained by a discipline issue, God’s love supplies our need for love. Filled with God’s love, our words and behavior can demonstrate the love we struggle to express in the moment; to hug, encourage, forgive, or to spend time together. Filled with God’s love, we can love our child through his rebellious days, just as God loves us through ours. Our child experiences, “I’m for you. I love you. I’m not going anywhere.”

God’s love transforms hearts, beginning with ours and overflowing to our child’s.

Dear God,
Thank You for Your love. Help me come to know and believe more fully Your love for me. Help me teach and reflect this to my child. Please remind me to draw from Your amazing reservoir of love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.