The unconditional love of God is unending. It is without measure or condition, it loves without anything in return."And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love." This type of love, agapē, never gives up. It is a tough, gritty love that pursues us through the cosmos to always find us and draw us to Jesus Christ; it is relentless.
Raising children is also relentless!"It will kill you Thor", "only if I die!" (Avengers Infinity War). I love asking my children, "why am I so proud of you?" There is usually something great they've accomplished. Such as getting up and being on time to leave for school. (sometimes there are other great milestones.) However; the answer always has to be the same;"because I'm your daughter/son". I will persistently pursue them to create a consistent identity that they are loved and valued for who they are not what they do. Human 'beings' not 'doings'. C.S. Lewis defines four loves: agapē, philia, eros and storge (affection); the most gritty, toughest and persistent of these is agapē.
"There are three ways of trying to win the young. There is persuasion, there is compulsion, and there is attraction. You can preach at them: that is a hook without a worm. You can say, You must volunteer, and that is of the devil. You can tell them, You are needed. That appeal hardly ever fails." Kurt Hahn
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