Isaiah 49:15 (NIV),

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”

If you are a parent you’ve no doubt read Robert N. Munsch’s book, “I Love You for Always.” From the time the boy is an infant until he is a grown man the mother will hold him in her arms and sing, “I like you forever, I love you for always, as long as I’m living my baby you’ll be.” 

A mom’s love for her child is perhaps the strongest thing in the history of the world. Mom’s love their kids more than CFO’s love black ink; more than hippies love peace; more than Julia Childs loves cinnamon; and more than Wisconsin residents love the “Green and Gold.” It’s not even close.

When our first child (and our second, third, and fourth) was born all of life rotated around that baby. All of mom’s life was focused around that child. Mom didn’t get upset when the baby cried to eat. Mom didn’t get upset when the baby needed to be changed. Mom didn’t get upset (very much) when the infant stole her sleep on a regular basis. This baby was high maintenance. Mom couldn’t have loved it more. There were plenty of times when mom had to be with the child.  What surprised me was even when she did not HAVE to, Teresa would hold the child close, sing to it, stare into it’s wondering eyes, rock it gently, and smile. 

God says, “see that mom’s love for her child? It is nothing compared to my love for you.” It is an amazing reality to know that those times when I am high maintenance or demanding or “cooing” (saying nothing of real intelligibility) or sleeping, God is holding me close and smiling. Oh, and singing to me, “I like you forever, I love you always, as long as I’m God, my child you’ll be.”