Click here to play today’s new podcast.
“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.”
-I Peter 4:8
All of us as families create a family culture of some kind. The traditions we keep, the meals we make, the routines we practice, the values we espouse and hold, our favorite movies, the church we attend, the generosity we practice, the way we invest time, the company we keep—all of these come together to craft our particular family culture. We can also inadvertently create a family culture that is negative—a culture of anger, neglect, guilt, discord, disharmony, worldly values.
I have realized that crafting a culture of love requires that I, as a mom, become the conductor of a loving and generous heart that leads all of my children to understand gracious, generous, sacrificial, validating, forgiving love. To create such a culture requires planning, intention, mature responses, words of life and affirmation, patience, and lots of unconditional love.
So often, we are caught up in the immediate things—getting the tasks done, housework, homework, bills paid, child discipline. Yet, it is the air our children breathe, the foundations we live by that will attach their hearts to ours and ultimately, potentially, to God.
True influence and discipleship is formed intentionally by modeling ourselves after the ultimate lover—Jesus. He who bowed his knees to wash 120 toes, to embrace sweet, wiggly children who were clamoring for attention, who touched the prostitute and gave her grace, who gave Peter, his own failing disciple, hope and affirmation in the midst of his failures on the night He was crucified. Ultimately He gave everything, out of love, for our redemption—He becomes our own source and inspiration of what it is like to form a culture of love. To be loved is a longing, a desire and need to our hearts as much as oxygen is to our lungs. To thrive and live productively, we all need love.
“Faith, hope and love remain, but the greatest of these is love.” -I Cor. 13:13
I wish you God's gracious, unconditional love and peace to have a lovely day with those you love!
Join me today on my podcast.