My oldest daughter just had a birthday. She is now 11 years old. Baby girl, turn young woman over night.  She loves Christmas. It’s appropriate since her name in Hebrew means Christmas tree. She was an unexpected, unplanned surprise for her daddy and me. We were young, ill-equipped and unmarried. But we had love.

Natalie was not planned by her parents but she was carefully knit together by a Master Craftsman. He intended her to be just as she is. We delight and marvel at what a precious young woman she is blossoming into.

Whenever my children’s birthdays come around, I always get a little melancholy, reminiscing of their milestones, their challenges, memories of dance recitals and their first time riding a bike. I think of how much joy and delight I have in them, how precious their lives are to me, and how much God has blessed me to be the one that they are entrusted to.

Then I think: our God loves us like that too, but even more so. “As a mother comforts her child so I comfort you.” (Isaiah 66:13)  As grand as my love is for my children, even on my “best mommy” day, my love does not compare to God’s.

And even if you are not a mother, you still love and, therefore, understand the grand-scale love I am talking about. It’s a kind of love worth fighting for, a love that requires sacrifice and attention. Yet, this love still falls short of the tremendous, wondrous, extraordinary, exalted, magnified love of our Abba, Father God!

I know without hesitation that my greatest earthly blessings are my children and husband. I know what a gift each child’s life is. I have learned more about God’s love for me through the tough lessons of motherhood. All the while, I know I am not doing this alone but with a Creator who knows my innermost thoughts because He crafted me carefully as well.

I find it absolutely perfect when I think about how God’s love story for all of His creation unfolds. What does God choose to do to win back his people? The solution was lying in a manger. “A child born to us.” (Isaiah 9:6) A child! The greatest example of pure love was given to us by our God. He gave us His own child, a son, so that we may have life.

As a mother, I have given life. I continue to give my life, but I cannot comprehend giving my child’s life. That is how we know God’s love. He found us worthy of such a sacrifice. “And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Sarah Apa