Unshakeable, Unremitting Love

One Easter at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., a woman named Diane told her story. It was a story of rebellion and attempted rejection, but also a tale of the power of unremitting love. Diane grew up in a good, loving home – family outings, birthday parties, softball games, dance classes, even church. But for some reason Diane never felt good about herself, especially when she reached adolescence. In high school the symptoms appeared: drugs, alcohol, staying out all night, lying and stealing.

The family was increasingly in crisis as they tried to reach out to Diane while at the same time attempting to maintain some stability in their life together, to hold on to the values that they believed in as a family. There were the rounds of counseling sessions, rehab for Diane, tough love, tears and prayers. But the more her parents reached out to her, the more rebellious Diane became.

Finally, she ran away from home. She started living the kind of life that she now says she doesn't even want to talk about. In her late twenties, things began to change. Diane talked about what had happened to her.

"At first, I felt my parents' love was unnecessary. It was smothering love. Then as things got worse, I began to feel unlovable. I think I resented my parents because if I was unlovable, then I could do what I wanted, and it wouldn't matter. But as long as I knew I was loved, I wasn't free to do my thing. So I needed to destroy their love in order to be free. But they never stopped loving me. Even when I got arrested, and they refused to bail me out of jail, I could see the pain of love in their eyes. Now I realize how much I needed their love, and that it was their love and prayers that kept me alive all those years. What amazes me most of all is that my worst could not destroy their love for me."

Easter operates on many levels—the rebirth of hope, the triumph of life over death, the opportunity to begin again, and again, and again.

But Easter also displays a God whose love for us is like a parent's love for a prodigal child. Even if we reject God, God will never reject us, never turn away from us. Even when we do evil things, God, out of pure love, will find a way to make something good come from it. "What amazes me most of all is that my worst could not destroy their love for me."

As Mother's Day approaches, let us remember those whose love for us was never in question, no matter how far we roamed from home. And let us pledge to be bearers of this unshakeable love for others.

During this Resurrection season, let us remember the God whose love for us never diminishes, never wavers, never dies. And let us turn to this God to find what good can be born from the worst things we do.

Mother's Day, Easter season, endless life—just imagine that God can feel about us the way we feel about our own children, and you begin to get a sense of just how far our loving Heavenly Parent will go for us. It's really pretty amazing.

Pastor Roy

P.S. Click the picture or link below to read the full May 2025 edition of The Beacon.