True Parent Love

This morning we had to say good-bye, again, to our son.  He graduated from Marine boot camp the Friday of Labor Day weekend & then had 10 days of glorious leave time.  It was such a joy to have "our son" back with us again.. to enjoy his personality, to hug him, to see him smile.  But today was his time to return.  He didn't want to go back.  We didn't want him to go back.  But here it was.. time to say good-bye.  The best thing we can do for him today is to give him the biggest hug we can (knowing that no matter how many hugs there were, they would never be enough), tell him that we love him, that we couldn't be more proud & encourage him, whether near or far, to go & do what God has called him to.

That is the essence of true parent love.  You can never put into words the depth of love you have for your child.  Your heart screams to do whatever you can to keep them close & to never have them leave.  But your true love for them, not just for yourself, urges you to push them on to fulfill their destiny, no matter how much pain they face in doing it.. and how much pain it causes you in letting them go.

I understand just a little bit what our heavenly Father faced in urging our savior to leave him in heaven & come to earth for us.. no matter how much pain that caused Jesus or God himself, He did it because of the very Truest Parent Love.