the love of a father and our Father

The love of a father - a mother - a parent, has a whole new depth and meaning to me now that our son Peter is here. More than anything else I have a deeper understanding of the love God has for us as His beloved children. I have spent a lot of time reflecting on that lately. It's an amazing kind of love that fills your heart as a parent. What leaves me speechless is that I know His love is bigger and deeper and stronger and wider than I will ever be capable of in my humanness. It's a love I cannot even begin to fathom. What a gift that He loves us in such a way.

God has abundantly blessed me with a daddy who has shown me an endless amount of love and support my whole life long.

He has given me a father-in-law who welcomed me as if I were his own from the start.

And He has given me an amazing husband who is an absolutely incredible dad to our sweet boy. Truly.

Dads get the short end of the stick appreciation-wise, I think. People are constantly assuming Michael has it easy in comparison to me as Peter's mom, but it's just not true. He has played just as important a role in our son's life. I look forward to celebrating Michael and the gift he is to our family today. 

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. May God bless each of you and all those men who long to be dads, those who miss their dads, those who miss their children, and those who are our spiritual fathers. 

Praying we all might know the deep and everlasting love of our Father today and every day...

{From the archives: My all-time most-read post from last Father's Day.}

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Three

The number three seems to be showing up a lot of places in my life lately. The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity had me thinking about our triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In March (the third month) we became a family of three. Peter is three months old now (how did that happen?), and today Michael and I celebrate three years of marriage. Three years as husband and wife. Three years of God's grace poured upon us in this beautiful sacrament.

{WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BY A THOUSAND WORDS PHOTOGRAPHY}

The Gospel reading at our wedding Mass was from John:

Jesus said to his disciples:
"As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
       just as I have kept my Father's commandments
       and remain in his love.

I have told you this so that my joy might be in you
       and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you."

{John 15:9-12}

The way He loves is the way we are called to love. And Jesus gives us this commandment that we may receive His joy - not the joy of this world, but an eternal joy. A joy like no other.

Michael, our joy became a little more complete in this third year as husband and wife. I pray we will continue to grow in joy for the rest of our lives together. Today I renew my commitment to always strive to love you as God loved His Son, and as Jesus loves us. Thank you for loving me even when I fail to do that, and for being so quick to forgive. I am forever grateful you chose me to be your bride.

Happy Anniversary. I love you more than I can say.

  P.S. Just for fun: our two year anniversary post // our love story

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