4 ways I promise to display my love...

Words will never do justice for how much a mama feels for her baby.  The feeling goes so much deeper than words. And try as I may to articulate it, I fear I'll never accurately be able to say it or write it.

It isn't until you are a mama yourself that you begin to understand the depth and width of your emotions.

My angel, I can promise you these four things will show you how much I love you.  I am not disillusioned to think these very things will also make you believe that I don't care about you, but make no mistake.  That is the world doing its best to lie to you.  But dive in.  Dig deep.  Trust these four ways that will prove how deep my love is for you.

One...

I love you enough to NOT buy you the latest fashion trend.  Or makeup at a young age.  I promise you will never leave the house wearing something that doesn't leave anything to wonder {if you know what I mean}.  I love you enough to teach you the beauty in classy.  The world will all but demand that you bare it all and color your face with makeup.  But Love promises us otherwise.

'Do not let your adornment be merely outward...rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible  beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.'

1 Peter 3:3-4

I promise I love you enough to not allow you to dress less than who you were created to be.  Instead, I will teach you to clothe yourself in compassion and kindness.  Humility and gentleness and patience.  These are a fashion statement that will never go out of style.  Clothe yourself in these and you will find yourself throwing your head back and laughing at the days to come.

Two...

I love you enough to admit when I mess up {and mess up I will, I already have!}.  I promise to teach you the beauty and redemption of repentance.  And the difference between conviction and condemnation.  Mama is not perfect, baby.  Neither are you.  None of us are.  But our imperfections mean we need Jesus all the more.  I love you enough to listen with an open heart when you need a safe place to speak your mistakes.  And I promise to show you enough grace so you know {beyond all doubt} that there isn't a single mistake you will make that will separate you from my love.  No, not one.

Three...

I love you enough to tell you over and over and over again that you will never find your worth in academics or sports or pageants or boys or friends or appearances. Never ever ever will any of these things define your worth.  Your entire worth is wrapped up in the only One who ever will {and did!} die for you.  Look to Jesus for your worth.  It is there you will find a King who is enthralled with your beauty.  The One who formed every part of you and declares that you {yes, you!} are fearfully and wonderfully made. And He knows your soul full well.  

Four...

I love you enough to not allow you to grow up too quickly.  I promise to do this by monitoring what you watch on TV and what you listen to on the radio.  I promise to limit your use of the Internet.  I promise to screen the books and magazines you read.  And I vow to not conduct inappropriate conversations in front of you.  Conversations that are meant for adult ears only and beyond the comprehension of tiny ears.  

'Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but only what is necessary for edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.'

I promise to impart grace to your tiny ears. You were meant to flourish in your childhood, not learn too much about this corrupt world before you know how to transform your mind.

I'm not going to do all this perfectly.  But I promise to seek Him everyday to show me how to do it better.  I promise to apologize when I get it wrong.  

And just in case you don't appreciate these displays of my affection, I promise to kiss all over you and squeeze you extra tight.  Even when you are in high school and it completely embarrasses you.  

I promise all these things because my love for you is completely so much more than any promise I could make.