Loving like Jesus, as a Mom

I always used to think of myself as someone who could love unconditionally. That no matter what my friends & family threw at me, I loved them just as much as I did previously. I still feel that way, only different. I'm finding that being a mother is teaching me how to truly love as Christ does. There are moments when she's upset with me when I've told her no or when she'd rather be snuggled & comforted by her grandma than by her own mother that I find hard. Of course I love her, no matter what. But it makes me sad & upset that she doesn't want me. Occasionally she pushes me away & it breaks my heart & I want her to know how I'm feeling. So when she does want me to get her, sometimes I shy away, I have this need to want her to know that she hurt my feelings so I'm not going to immediately come when she wants. But that's not right, my daughter needs to know that NO MATTER WHAT, I'm here for her, loving & supporting her. That I'm ready & willing to hold & comfort her. Just as Christ as done this with us & continues to do so. We do so many things that hurt Him & break His heart. We push him away & say that we can do it on our own. But when we turn back to Him, when we say, "I can't do it Lord, I need help & comfort" He does it, no questions asked. Why? Because He LOVES us, unconditionally, no strings attached, no matter what. WOW, to me that is amazing. We have that comfort in Him, that if we screw up or if we tell him to leave us alone, when we don't feel that way anymore, He welcomes us with open arms. Think how many times He did it for the Israelites. Think of how many times He's done it just for you. It's a struggle every day, but I'm learning how to TRULY love as Christ loves us. I'm realizing how He feels when we don't want Him or His help, how heartbreaking. Motherhood is not only teaching me how to love my daughter (and others) like Christ, but it is teaching me how to be a better servant of God, a more faithful follower of Jesus.