Unconditional Love

One of my favorite parts of being a mom to a young child is that I still have autonomy in what he wears.  While I know my days are numbered in regard to this privilege, I’m making them count while I can! So, you’ll often find my son in Auburn gear on game day. 

As we’re all aware, the Corona Virus has caused every sporting event imaginable to be canceled or postponed.  Yesterday was supposed to be “Selection Sunday,” a day where the dreams of many college basketball players are realized as their teams are chosen to participate in the NCAA basketball tournament.  However, with the tournament being canceled, no brackets were released, and no teams gathered to celebrate. 

And yet, I dressed my son in his Auburn gear.  At first, this felt silly to me, and I couldn’t justify to myself why I was still doing this.  Then it hit me.  I dress Mack in Auburn gear, not because of what a team may or may not do in March Madness, or the College World Series, or the College Football Playoff (Lord help us if we can ever make it there).  I dress him in Auburn gear win or lose, games or no games because I want to teach him that we love our school (and its respective teams) unconditionally.  We love Auburn because it is our school and our team. Period. The end.

One might find this a strange type of love to have until we realize that we are wired for this type of unconditional love as image-bearers of God.  You see, the truest form of unconditional love is the type of love we find in Christ, who lives in us as Christians.  He loves us not because of what we’ve achieved or proven.  He loves us because we are His.  Period. The end.  He demonstrated this love for us by giving up his life for us on the cross and rising again three days later.  This is what we reflect upon during Lent then celebrate on Easter. 

So, while sporting events are canceled, dress your children (or yourselves!) in your favorite team’s gear.  Teach them about unconditional love, then point them to the ultimate love—that which we find in Jesus.  Let’s celebrate that and rejoice in the peace and joy that love brings us during these trying and uncertain times.