The Love Challenge

The last few weeks we have been talking about "the Love Challenge" at church. We have been given a 10 week "challenge". We have been challenged to expand our understanding of love (see below). Seems to be a simple, common sense message, we are all taught to love at all times. We know we are to give unconditional love like Christ. Here is the thing though..as I've tried for the last few weeks to love at ALL times (when kids are picking on each other, when they are complaining, tired, I am tired, etc..) I find myself losing my temper over and over again. It is easy to love when the kids are perfect, when people are kind and willing to share, when people don't say hurtful things, when life "goes our way" and everything is perfect (or so we think). It is easy to love when you get the job you want, the raise you want, win the award you want...fill in the blank here...

One of the blessings Parker gives is constant love. I know they say children that have DS are "happy" kids (not sure this really is true of them all since they do all experience the range of full emotions), but what I know is that Parker's face lights up when you glance his way, when he hears his siblings voice, sees us when we've stepped away, when we make silly faces or play silly games with him. He loves to belly laugh when his brother gets close and tickles his tummy, when his sisters read to him at night he listens intently and smiles so wide. He laughs when we blow on his face or when his Daddy whistles on his face or in his ear. Even when he is fussy or tired, he can muster a smile through the tears. I find myself asking if I smile through the tears? Not very often I'm afraid.

As I continue to ask what is the purpose of this journey with Parker I wonder if it is to help us understand the true love of Christ and His love for all of us? "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Here is the 10 week challenge from our church, seems simple enough..are you up for the challenge? http://thelovechallenge.net/challenge/

you are challenged to expand your understanding of the meaning of love;
1 Corinthians 13
you are challenged to love God more fully: Deuteronomy 4:37
you are challenged to love one another on a higher level: John 15:12
you are challenged to express love sacrificially: Ephesians 5:2
you are challenged to ask God for ways to show love to those who need it
you are challenged to seek God for ways to show Christ’s love to the unlovely: Luke 6:32-35
you are challenged to find ways to express love toward those who are adversarial: Matthew 5:44
you are challenged to be a conduit of God’s unconditional love: 1 John 4:19
you are challenged to record the ways that God is leading you to express love toward Him and others

Blessings! Lara

PS Pictures of Parker with his new trick sitting and grabbing feet..think this used to be a ballet move? Ah, to be this flexible again....