For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.    John 3:16

When I first saw each of my three children, I loved them with a love that I did not realize existed in me. These were flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone, and were the result of the love between their mother and me. This made them mine.

My love for them continues to be so strong as they grow older and I cannot fathom ever losing them. Then I look around and see friends of mine who have lost a child. It makes me want to hold them tighter and not let go.

But as I have continued to grow in this stewardship way of life, I realize that these three wonderful human beings and not really mine. They belong to God. They are entrusted to me in this world, but they belong truly to the One who loves them even more than I do. Yet, it is not easy to offer them back to God, especially due to tragedy. If that day ever were to come, how could I handle it?

Not only did God offer his Son to the world, the offering was done with full knowledge that the Son would die a brutal death. God loves us so deeply he placed Himself in the very position that any parent dreads the most. So this Lent I will look at my children and I reflect on the depth of love a parent has for a child and the even more profound love God has for us.

-Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS