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From the moment you were made, I loved you with all of my heart. You have only been here for a few short years, but I already love you more than you will ever know.

Sometimes when it’s quiet, I can feel my heart start to swell up inside of me as it tries to escape and find its way to you.

Other times, I dream about all the ways I can prove my love for you. I dream of suffering great things for you, because that’s what true love does. To give my life for you would be the greatest possible act of love, and that is exactly what I want.

I do actually suffer for your benefit every single day, and most of the time you haven’t the slightest idea that I do. But that’s okay. It’s just another cross to bear for your benefit. Besides, I love proving my love for you. Every single day I secretly hope that you’ll present me with some hardship that I can suffer for your sake.

Because I love you.

You’re an awfully wild child, and most of the time you spend your life playing with silly toys. You’re too busy to even notice me a lot of times. But those few short moments when I can capture your attention, when I can finally be on the receiving end of a little affection, that’s what I live for. That’s what makes everything worth it. A thousand crosses are forgotten by one caress.

Unfortunately, when you’re not caressing, you’re often trespassing. You certainly aren’t very fond of my instructions, and you always seem to think you know better than I. Even though I have proven my love for you a thousand times over, you are still so stubborn that you actually believe I don’t know what’s best for you.

How silly you are, tiny child.

My commands are given to protect you. Again, because I love you. When you refuse to obey, I have to punish. You have to learn to smash that pride and humble yourself into obedience. It’s the only way you’ll ever survive this life. Don’t you see? I’m not giving you all of these instructions and commands because I’m an evil dictator. Rather, I’m doing these things out of love. I’m protecting you. I am showing you the only way to be truly happy and secure. Following your own misguiding passions will only bring hurt and pain.

Just swallow your pride, and listen to me, child. You’ll never understand how much I love you, but you have to understand that I only want what’s best for you.

Alas. Despite all of these heartfelt pleadings, my instructions will still all too often fall on deaf ears. You don’t like to obey, and the manifestations of your rebellious nature are inevitable. Sometimes your disobedience is in response to only a small command, but sometimes you go so far as to commit serious acts of open defiance.

Those hurt. To think of everything I have done for you; to think that I am willing to give my life for you; and you return the favor by practically, sometimes literally, spitting in my face. Any normal person would probably disown you and give up hope.

But I’m not just any normal person. I’m a parent. A parent loves their child unconditionally. No matter how far you ever fall, this heart will still be on fire just waiting for you to return to my favor where you belong.

All it takes is one simple, heartfelt, “I’m sorry.” Please don’t insult the power of my love by thinking that you have the ability to fracture our relationship beyond repair. My heart is on fire, and fire cleanses everything. My love will supply for whatever is lacking in your love. So if you ever find yourself at odds with my love, don’t delay, dear child. Come back home. My heart is open to receive you. Just say the word.

I love you.

Now this writer has two beautiful daughters to which this letter could be addressed, but that isn’t exactly the intent. There’s another parent Who has a love that’s infinitely greater than all the love on Earth combined. How could that be?

Mere natural parenthood is only a spark to the roaring fire that is the Divine Parenthood of Our Heavenly Father. He blessed us with the institution of natural parenthood so that we could have a tiny insight into the all-consuming love that His Sacred Heart possesses for our poor, pitiful human hearts.

Please don’t ignore that love. Please don’t try and hide from it. Please do run to Him. Please do try your very best to return that love. He has the gift of Eternal Life at His disposal, and He is literally dying to give it to us.

As He hangs dying on the cross to prove His love for you, His arms are open to embrace you, and His head is bent to kiss you. Even more, His heart is pierced open by a lance in order to receive you. He’s drained every last drop of His blood to prove how much He loves you. What else does He have to do for you? It doesn’t matter if you are the worst sinner in the history of the entire world. A love as strong as His will do away with every last blemish to your relationship.

Will you turn away from your loving Father, and leave Him to die for you in vain? No. Go to Him. Go to Him. Again, He is literally dying for you to love Him.