John 1:11
Sam's mom only had one eye and Sam hated her because she was an embarrassment to him. It was especially humiliating for Sam, because his mom worked at his school, cooking for students and teachers to support her family.
One day during lunch at Sam's junior high school, his mom stopped by his table and said, "Hello." Sam was too embarrassed to respond to his mother. He thought, how could she do this to me, then he gave her a hateful look and ran out of the lunch room.
The next day at school, one of Sam's classmates said, "Eeww, your mom only has one eye!" Sam, once again was very mortified.
When he returned home from school that day he confronted his mom with these words, "You always make a laughing stock out of me, I wish you would just die!" His mom did not respond.
Sam had not even stopped to think about the cruel words he had just said to his mother. He was full of anger and oblivious to her feelings. His intentions were to get out of their little "shack" of a home and have nothing to do with his mother as soon as possible.
Sam studied hard and eventually got a chance to go abroad to study. It wasn't long after that he was married and back in the states. Once married, he bought a house and had children of his own. Sam was very happy with his life, his wife and his children.
At this time in Sam's life, he didn't even think of his mom or his awkward school days. Then one day, his mother learned where Sam lived and she went to visit with him. Neither mother or son had seen each other in years, his mom had never even met her daughter-in-law or grandchildren.
She gingerly knocked on Sam's door, as she needed to talk to Sam and she had hoped he would be more accepting and approachable. When the door opened she was greeted by two of Sam's children, but before she could say anything, Sam appeared.
Sam sent his children to another room of the house, when he realized it was his mother at the door. He immediately and rudely said to her, "You have been an embarrassment to me my whole life. I want you to leave. What do I have to do to keep you out of my life?"
To this, his mother quietly answered, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I must have gotten the wrong address." Then she disappeared out of sight.
One day, a letter regarding a school reunion arrived at Sam's home. He thought to himself, this is a perfect time for me to return to my home town and show everyone how far I have come. After the reunion and out of curiosity, he went by his old home.
He was very proud when the neighbors noticed him, his lovely wife and his brand new car. Right then his neighbors yelled to him, "Your mom has been dead for some time now!" Sam didn't even shed a tear, then his neighbors handed him a letter that his mother had wanted him to have. It read:
"My dearest son,
If you are reading this, it means I have passed on. However, I want you to know that I have always thought about you, I have missed you and I will always love you! There is nothing that you could ever do that would change those facts!
I am sorry that I upset you when I came by your home, I had hoped we could talk before my passing. You need to know, my will is in the little box under my bed along with some cash for you and your siblings.
Most importantly, I want you to know how sorry I am for having been a constant embarrassment to you as you were growing up. But, you need to know something, you see... when you were very little, you were in a terrible accident and lost your eye.
As your mother, I couldn't stand by, watching you be made fun of by other children, so I gave you one of mine. I need you to know I have never regretted that decision!!
With all my love to you forever,
Your Mother."
-Author Unknown
As a mother, I know that there is nothing that could make me stop loving my children. Even when they have said unkind things to me, and they have... I still loved them.
Still, it is not an easy thing to face a cold shoulder or rejection, especially from someone we love. Unfortunately, I'm quite sure that we all have faced just such an action.
The world we live in is not only godless, it is also loveless. For all the debauchery and sensuality, that presents itself everyday, there is not one iota, or even the remote possibility of real love.
While rejection and exclusion bring great pain to the heart and soul, it is so important to know that "nothing, absolutely nothing" can come between us and the Lord Jesus Christ!
God's Word states: "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
As Christians, we can expect the world to hate us... to make fun of us... and to try to tear us apart. But, you need not lose heart, for God is always on our side. The Bible states, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31
God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us. He sent His very own son to embrace our condition. Why? The answer is simple: He Loved Us and He Loved Us, Unconditionally!!!
Which of you would dare to tangle with God, by tampering with one of His children?