Every now and then we have one of those moments that just slap us in the face. Sitting in church today, I had one of those that just knock you down. Jared was finishing his message (a powerful one at that!) and a video of the crucifixion was playing. This time is was about Mary and her love for her son - the pain she felt watching what they were doing to the child she had loved so deeply. I watched the pain in her eyes as Jared was telling us what we had to do for our own families and it was like a meteor slamming down on me. Do I love HIM enough to make that same sacrifice? It's easy to say, of course I do, but it's another thing all together to mean it. In my heart of hearts I know that I would probably grab every sword and spear I could lay hands on and fight to the absolute death to protect my child. I truthfully can't even go there in my mind. But as I listened to Jared and watched Mary, I realized that they are HIS and were HIS long before he gave them to me to raise. If I am to lead them in a way that is true to HIM and my given purpose, then I have to be like Mary. I am thankful that He has never asked that same sacrifice from me and I pray that is always the case. But given that, I also pray that I will continue to grow in my love and absolute devotion to him - so that I do just what Mary did - and what our Father did for each of us. I lay it ALL down at your feet Lord, help me to raise my children in a way that they also give their ALL to YOU.