Here is a summary of some disturbing comments by a foster/adoptive parent used in a state training we recently attended:
“We decided to adopt because our family had so much love within us and we thought a child with nothing would be so happy to share in that love. But we are so disappointed. Not only has she not appreciated or accepted our love, she is actually taking away some of the love and joy from our home.”
This is a great picture of how our culture views love. People are not always as honest as this individual was, but love is often seen as a tank that can be empty or full, depending on the circumstances. Too often love is treated as a commodity to be spent. If my loved ones treat me a certain way, then I feel loved. If I feel loved, then I am able to love in return. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.
This is anti-gospel. Hollywood
God’s love is not something that comes and goes based on our actions or inactions. He does not have a pool of love that will run out if we are really rebellious, defiant, or unappreciative of his love. God doesn’t get to the year 2012 and say, “Sorry, my love pool dried up because those children born prior just took and took and took and gave nothing in return.”
God’s love is patient, kind, and generous. God’s love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. God’s love never ends. God doesn’t offer us an opportunity to partake in an infinitely loving relationship with him because he thinks we will be so thankful for the opportunity. Amazingly, God sent Christ to the cross after thousands of years of his people being unthankful. Christ faced the death penalty on our behalf knowing that we would never contribute to his “love tank.”
And so we are called to follow in His steps.
We never have to worry about running out of love because our hearts have been infused with the infinite love of our Heavenly Father. That is why we can love our enemies. Love those who mistreat us. Love those who don’t contribute positively to our life. Love others when we feel like we have nothing left to give. Love a newborn who does nothing but poop, cry, and eat. Love our invalid senile old parents. Love our children...even when they are slow, behind, rebellious, full of rage, hate, or sin…
Unfortunately, this foster family has not really experienced the love of Christ that radically redefines the word “love.” What they call love is actually a demonic twist which will produce nothing but resentment, anger, and frustration.
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