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You are rushing around trying to get out the door, and you are watching the time. Then your child knocks over a cup of juice and it begins spreading across the kitchen table. And oh no, now it's dripping onto the floor. What comes out of you first? So when things like this happen, does your response communicate to your child that you still love them? Because our children, they shouldn't have to earn our love by getting everything right. See, Jesus doesn't love us more on our best days and less on our worst. So what does unconditional spirit-led love look like in everyday family life? Welcome to God Says So, the scripture-rooted podcast created to help Christian moms just like you grow in God's word, strengthen your faith, live by what God says, and pass his truth on to the children you love. So the next generation grows up rooted in Scripture. Hi, I'm Donna, and I hope that you'll feel right at home here. Together, we'll find encouragement and joy in what God says. You'll leave with one practical way to bring his truth into your everyday family life. So come join me. I can't wait to share today's message with you. Hey, friend, I am so glad you're here. For the past two episodes, we have been laying the foundation of our series, The Fruit of the Spirit in Everyday Family Life. And today, we are beginning to look at each of the nine characteristics. Okay, so today we are going to be starting with love. And this is not about whether you love your child. I know you do. So we're looking at how the love of Jesus can shape the way your love becomes visible in everyday moments. Jesus says in John 13, 34, so now I am giving you a new commandment. Love each other just as I have loved you. You should love each other. Okay, I love those words. Just as I have loved you. I mean, Jesus is our example. So God's love for us is not something we earn by getting, oh no, everything right. Everything needs to be perfect. No, no, no. We come to Jesus needing grace. So we are saved by grace through faith, and he continues working in us as we grow. Okay, and this gives us a beautiful picture of the love we want our children to experience from us. Our children should not have to earn our love by being easy, cooperative, or perfectly well behaved. Our love does not disappear when they make a mistake, have a hard moment, or need correction. Okay, and this is important. Unconditional love doesn't mean that every behavior is okay. You still teach, you still correct, you still set boundaries. Now you can do those with love without shaming your child or making them feel like your love depends on their behavior or performance. Your child can remain secure in your love even when they need correction. Imagine you are trying to get everyone out the door. You are rushing around watching the clock when your child knocks over a cup of juice that begins to spread across the kitchen table, and it's like getting like way too close to that pile of mail. And now the juice is dripping onto the floor. Now your first reaction might be, I don't have time for this. And maybe your tone changed before you even realized it. Okay, so this is exactly the kind of everyday moment we're learning to recognize. The spill is not the big issue here. It's what that moment brings up inside of you. Now, as you walk with Jesus, the Holy Spirit can help you notice your reaction. So you can pause and realize, okay, you know what? I logically, you say, my child didn't do this on purpose. It was an accident. So this isn't misbehavior that needs correcting. And you might say to your child, it's okay, accidents happen. Let's clean this up together. So, okay, so you guys clean up the mess and then you move everyone out the door. But what when you're doing this, okay, so this is kind of a think of it as almost like a nonverbal type of communication. Like you want to communicate that this was just an accident and that your love for your child has not changed. Now, that's something our children need to know, right? Accidents happen and they are still loved. They can have a hard moment and still be loved. They can misbehave and be corrected and still be loved. Love isn't something we just turn up when our children's behavior pleases us, or turn it down when it doesn't. And there will be times when you react first and realize it afterward. Love can show up there too. So you can go back and say, sweetie, I'm sorry. Mommy was so upset about the mess, but I should not have spoken to you that way. I love you. And mom, please hear me when I say this. Your imperfect response doesn't change Jesus' love for you. Jazz, like your child's behavior doesn't change your love for them. Okay, so here's one practical step you can take today. When something interrupts your plan, such as a spill, or your child is just having a difficult moment, say this like it's a very short prayer, right in the middle of that situation. Holy Spirit, help me respond with love. See, it doesn't have to be a long prayer. Pray this when you feel frustration, impatience, irritation rising up inside of you. You are asking the Holy Spirit to help your words, your tone, and your actions reflect in Jesus in that moment. Okay, let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and for showing me what love looks like through Jesus. Thank you that I do not have to earn your love by getting everything right. Help me love my child with a steady, unconditional love that reflects you. When things don't go the way I planned, help me pause and follow the Holy Spirit's leading. Shape my words, my attitude, and my responses so they reflect Jesus. Help me teach, correct, and guide with love, and help my child always to know that even when their behavior needs correcting, my love for them does not change. Let the way I speak and respond show them a steady love that reflects the love of Jesus. In Jesus' mighty name, amen. Okay, so come back this Thursday for the next episode as we move on to joy and look at what it can mean to live with joy in your everyday family life. Oh, and if you haven't already, please follow the God Says So podcast so you never miss an episode. Oh, wait, one more thing. If the Holy Spirit puts someone on your heart while you were listening to this episode, would you please share this podcast with them? And together, we can reach more families, all for God's glory. Until next time, stay rooted in Scripture. Live by what God says, and pass it on.