I can remember that as a child I had a distinct way of breaking the news to my parents when I got into some kind of trouble at school (which was often). Before telling them what I did wrong, I would simply ask my mother or father: “how much do you love me?” I figured that this would soften the blow of the bad news that was to follow. Instinctively, they would say: “I love you very much — now what did you do wrong?!” Aside from the fact that I would be puzzled that they knew I did something wrong, I knew that I truly was loved. God so loved each of us that He sent His own Son into the world to forgive us and raise us up to newness of life. Even in those moments that we have done wrong Jesus is the hand that is stretched out to sinners. He actually loves us that much! He held nothing back! We are who we are because we are loved; first by God and then by others in our lives. Never forget that.
