A parent’s love goes a long way. Mary’s life was an example of how the love story between a parent and a child is filled with wonder, mystery, and even misery. Through all of this, Mary treasured the experiences she had with Jesus just as we treasure each and every day with our children. Father’s too, are filled with love and are driven by a desire to provide for their children and keep them safe. Just as the father Brad preached about followed his adult daugher to bars, night clubs, and alleys to rescue her from a drug addiction that would ultimately have ended in her untimely death, great fathers will go to the ends of the earth for their children. This is a love that is unexplainable unless you are a parent. It is the same love God has for us – His children. It is because of our experience with that love as parents that we see Jesus in our children. Jesus laid the foundation of love and acceptance through His death for us, and it is therefore up to us to affirm the steadfastness of that foundation and keep it vibrant and healthy in our families. So, just as Mary and Joseph dedicated themselves to the treasure of Mary’s heart – her son – so we as parents should dedicate ourselves to our children and to keeping Jesus in the family by keeping that love alive and fruitful in our hearts and in the hearts of our children.
