The Greatest Gift of All Time, And Then Some

When I first became a tent dweller I was most profoundly struck by the fear of how the losses would affect my family. They did not choose the road on which we found ourselves and so did not deserve the repercussions of my faint heart. We decided to spare our children the many disheartening details of how our tent-life came to be in an attempt to keep their hearts from becoming downcast.

It turns out; our four children grew uniquely suited for this strange and unexpected life that has come upon us. They have uncommon love for each other, steady and unfaltering peace of mind, extraordinary awareness of life's greater issues, unending creativity, and an overflowing sense of humor. In fact, all the fears I held at the beginning of this journey have been eased over time. Our kids have what they need for emotional wholeness and physical strength. God takes care of them when I am incapable of doing so myself.

The greatest gifts given to me have surely been my children, but the greatest gift of all time is to experience the single-mindedness of willingly laying down your life for another person. I had never known these feelings until my children arrived. The intensity of the emotions connected to such readiness is beyond words. It is a divine gift that begins to demystify the enormity of eternity and unpack the thoughts of God.

I would gladly give up my life in an instant for any one of my children. This alacrity immediately transports me into the realm of holy perspective. When I lose sight of things I meditate on unconditional sacrifice. The whole thing is so unearthly, so beyond the material, that it carries me to places indescribable.

And yet, so simple are the rudiments of real love.