Mom, why do you do so much for my sister and me? A question my little one asked me as we were walking through the store.

I want to change the first word a tad bit and look at that question as it relates to our faith.

God, why do you do so much for me?

Interesting enough, the answer to the question my daughter asked and the answer I think God would give is the same.

Because I love you!!

I couldn’t possibly sight all the verses in the Bible that tell us about God’s love and how great that is. Of course, His greatest demonstration of His love was becoming man and then dying on the cross for us. God made the ultimate sacrifice out of love for us, not because we deserve it or for anything we did/do.

… the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of His mercy.” Titus 3:4-5

Sometimes we may take this for granted just as our loved ones will or have. God calls us to love one another through mercy for one another, just as He did for each of us. Sometimes that is a difficult task.

As we continued to walk through the store, my daughter gave me a hug and told me thank you. This small token of appreciation, warmed my heart. Often, our actions are not received with gratefulness.

Have you ever felt that you weren’t appreciated for all you do for your loved ones? You do everything you possibly can, exhausting every ounce of your body, to not receive anything back.

Mmmm… Have you sinned lately? Have you failed to make room for God for at least 10-15 minutes each day? Have you prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for all He has given you lately?

Perhaps you may see where I’m headed. You see just as our loved ones sometimes don’t show us appreciation for all things we do for them throughout the day, the week, the years, we don’t always show God appreciation for all the things He does, every second, minute, hour, day…

Does it mean that we don’t love God or appreciate Him for His constant giving in our lives? What about our loved ones? Does it mean they don’t love or appreciate what we do for them?

Because we are made of flesh, intellect and EMOTIONS, I think we need and desire appreciation from those in our lives that we pour out to in order to feel deeply loved. The reason I think this is true is because God created us from love, to love, and to be loved. It is out of love that we do the things we do for those we do love. If love is the act we pour out, then receiving words or acts of appreciation fill our emotional tanks of love. Without it, we begin to feel depleted and exhausted. It doesn’t mean that we stop pouring out because we don’t. We continue to pour out because no matter how many times we don’t get it, God continues to pour out upon us. We are called by Him to continue to pour out not because of what others do for us, but because of the mercy we have for them… This my friends is true love that you pour out upon your loved ones. I invite you to embrace your spouse, your children, your mom or dad and tell them you appreciate all that they do for you. Then take a few minutes and pray a prayer of thanksgiving to God for all the moments in your life – the good and the bad.

Categories: Faith, Love

Tags: #appreciation, #Catholic, #family, #gratefulness, #loveandmercy, #mercy, Love