As a parent, sometimes we may not "like" or "agree" with choices our children make, but I can't help but think any mother feels the same, even if we don't outwardly express it. An unknown author beautifully portrays the possibilities of no-strings-attached love in this heartfelt story titled "The Rock."
THE ROCK
"As she grew older her teenage daughter became increasingly rebellious. It culminated late one night when the police arrested her daughter for drunk driving. Mom had to go to the police
station to pick her up.
They didn't speak until the next afternoon. Mom broke the tension by giving her a small gift-wrapped box. Her daughter nonchalantly opened it and found a little rock inside. She rolled her eyes and said, 'Cute, Mom, what's this for?'
"Read the card," Mom instructed.
Her daughter took the card out of the envelope and read it. Tears started to trickle down her cheeks. She got up and lovingly hugged her mom, as the card fell to the floor.
On the card were these words: "This rock is more than 200,000,000 years old. That is how long it will take before I give up on you."
This mother is not saying, 'I will love you IF.' Instead she says that she will love her daughter forever and nothing can change that. No strings attached.
When we learn to love like that, I think we'll understand the words of Emmett Fox, who said,
"If you could only love enough, you could be the most powerful person in the world."