I am the mother of five children. Each time one of them was born, I gave them a piece of my heart. How do I know? Because when they started school, started driving, started dating, and started college, my heart went with them.
Last night, I was sitting at probably my one zillionth basketball game beside my daughter, who was home visiting from college. Justin, who is a senior in high school, went in for a lay up and suddenly he was on the bottom of a pile of very large boys. I grabbed my daughter's hand and squeezed it tightly, while saying a prayer that he would be safe.
"Mom," she laughed, "he's okay. Why are you freaking out?"
I looked at her and smiled. She isn't a mother yet. She doesn't understand about giving away your heart.
Over the years, I realized that somewhere along life's journey part of my soul had become attached to each piece of my heart that I had given away. If my children were sad, so was I. When they hurt, I felt their pain. When they fell in love, I rejoiced with them. When their heart ached, so did mine. And then I became a grandmother! Guess what? I didn't think I had more heart to give, but I was wrong.
My grandmother lived to be 89. She was blessed with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When she died, even though I know it was because her body finally failed her, my personal theory is she died because she'd finally given away all of her heart and all of her soul to her precious children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. God took her home to make her heart and soul whole again. One day, I know He will do the same for me.
The truly amazing thing about love is that you can't limit it. There is nothing it can't do. It's bigger than the ocean. It is higher than the sky. No matter how much you give away, there is always more to give.
I am especially humbled to think that as powerful as the love is that I have for my family, God's love is greater. He loved all of humanity so much that He gave His only son as a sacrifice for our sins. The story of His love and the life of Jesus are truly the greatest love story of all time. And isn't it amazing to think it all began with a tiny baby in a manger and a mother who gave her son a small piece of her heart.
But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19 NKJV)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
