Day 21 – Unquestioningly

I realize the older I get and the more families I encounter in my profession, that my siblings and I were extremely blessed to have always known unquestionably that we were loved by our parents. And, since our grandparents lived with us for awhile in our young lives, I can also add that we knew our grandparents loved us unquestioningly.

I believe that my family knows that I love them unquestioningly. I truly feel that the best gift, blessing, and privilege God has bestowed upon me is being a mother. The moment Dakota came into my life, oh how I loved him. My love for my son is unshakeable. This gives me a small insight into the power of God’s love for us.

When I recall the bullying I experienced as a young student, I realize that I came out unscathed, relatively speaking, partly because that is how I am built, but more because of the love and support I received at home. I truly believe that growing up at a time when we could leave school and truly leave it behind, and go to a home filled with love and support, made a difference for me.

My siblings and I were the first ones in our family who were born in the United States. We grew up speaking Spanish at home. I learned English in Kindergarten. The summer before my first grade year we spent in Mexico, due to a work obligation my dad had over there. When we returned, I felt a little shaky with my English.

I remember one day, at the beginning of the school year, I was silent when I was asked to read out loud in class. I was staring at the word and was unsure how to pronounce it. When my teacher insisted I read and thought I was being defiant, she sent me to sit in the cloakroom.

Terrible! I know. But little Libett prayed for her teacher. Little Libett loved her teacher and wanted her teacher to love her back. By the end of the year, I remember getting little side hugs from the teacher and her smiling at me. I would like to think that Little Libett’s prayer was heard and maybe the Holy Spirit softened that teacher’s heart.

These experiences have shaped me as a professional Adventist educator. And oh how I pray that my students know that they are loved.

I cannot imagine the agony that our Father in Heaven experiences because of his unquestioning love for all of us. When we make mistakes that hurt others, it is amazing to know how much God loves us despite ourselves.

God gives us our daily bread – God is our daily bread – so that we may love like God loves. And so, my prayer will continue to be… “May those I love know it unquestioningly.”