Look at the photo above. Do you see his face? It seems as if he knows she needs to be comforted, but he is a little distant. He seems to be unsure how to love her.

I know this feeling. I am parenting children that have big hurts. They feel them with their whole body. I have been unsure how to comfort them. I have had lots of advice. From therapists and counselors. You know what? It hasn’t always helped. Once I started praying to God to guide my words and comfort to them, they were able to heal. The spirit guided us together.

Sometimes, my children can be difficult to be around. I take verbal and emotional abuse almost daily. It takes a toll on me. Sometimes it feels personal. I try to be patient. I’m not always successful. It can be hard to love them sometimes. And then I become hard to love.

I remember complaining to someone one time about a situation that happened with a kiddo. At some point, this person started talking about perspective, but I didn’t really hear what they were saying. Because instead of hearing them, I heard: Stop. Remember, they are a precious child of God.

Those words come to my mind often now. It helps me get through my frustration faster. It helps me not to hold on to anger. It helps me to remember whose children they really are. I am their earthly mother. They are His. I am so grateful for that reminder. It helps me to be a better mother to them. To love them when they are at their worst.

This week of Easter has been amazing! I have heard so many people share their love of Jesus Christ. I read something that my sister-in-law shared on social media. I’d love to share it with you:

Judas Ate Too

Hours before the death of Jesus, Judas ate too. Jesus fed Judas too. Jesus prayed to Judas too. Jesus washed Judas’s feet too. I struggle to fathom what kind of love this is… A love that would feed the mouth that deceived you. A love that would wash the feet of the traitor. A love that could forgive even the vilest of betrayals. Honestly, I struggle to comprehend it. And then, suddenly, I realize… that I’m Judas too! And in that moment, I’m so thankful & altogether overwhelmed that, Judas ate too. The true test of Christianity is not about loving Jesus but loving Judas. Showing love for someone like Jesus is so easy, but loving someone hard to love, a sinner like Judas is difficult. That’s what ‘following Jesus’ is all about.

-@thewomanbythewell

This really spoke to me yesterday. Especially the part where it states, ‘I am Judas too!’ We have all done things that we know are wrong to do. We chose to do them. We live with the guilt. Jesus died for you to be able to repent and turn away from those things. He wanted us to be able to become clean again.

I have children in their teen years now. They often get stuck living in their guilt. They don’t know how to forgive themselves after they have been forgiven. I teach them as best I can. It is amazing to watch them grow. Physically, mentally and spiritually. We have had amazing conversations filled with the spirit confirming His love to us and our family.

I was watching a video on Instagram by Covenant Captures. He was talking about how on his mission he was struggling with a companion. His mission president gently rebuked him saying, “What is the power of love if it is only given to easy people?”

He then said, every time things get hard, he loves harder.

This! I love this! I want to be like Jesus. He loved harder than anyone of us can comprehend.

I want to be clear, all of the things I shared above are absolutely not reasons to stay in a relationship that is abusive. Ask for guidance. God will help you to know what you should do. Even if it isn’t the answer that you want. Act. He has a greater path for you. It leads to joy and happiness.