A principle that I wish I understood about 30 years ago was that the Lord our God is the Creator, not me.

Before I had Kimberly I had worked at a facility called the Children's Center in Salt Lake City. I loved it there. I loved it because they showed and expressed value to little children. In the culture I grew up, children were on a as needed or as wanted basis. The adults had their lives and when children came along we were to fit in best we could. I'm sure that has it's advantages like children learning they are not the center of the universe (I never told my kids the truth about that one). They probably learned to be independent and separate from their parents.
On the other hand, you don't develop much personal value when you are just a cog in the wheel, a bit of entertainment or one more thing to be taken care of. You are independent but at what cost? Here is my point. The Creator of the universe shows us a different way.

When we are loved by God, he knows us. He knows every hair on our head. We are not just a cog in the wheel or a thing to be taken care of and as a result
 we recieve the love that nurtures us to our maturity.
 God has a way of loving us that inspires us to completion. When I read the Isaiah 49:16, I know I am loved.
 See, I have engraved thee on the palm of My hand 

 As parents we would do what ever we need to do for our children. We would give our lives for our children, it's been shown over and over. But the question is - do you have the heart of your child? Our God in heaven took the time to make sure His children knew He loved them. He did it in many different ways. One way, as in our example, He engraved us on the palm of His hand, then showed it to us and made sure we knew it. I guess you could say He was using an object lesson. In some circles that might be considered a little over the top parenting. He gives us the example of abundant love. In His actions He is speaking to a type of soul that hears the devotion. With overt love it's easy to see that why the Lord God Almighty has the heart of His children - because we love Him so much.

I guess the way a child knows you love them is by the time you give them. If you have time for them, that speaks volumes. When God teaches us He takes a willing heart and speaks to it. God always has time for us.
Susannah Wesley was an interesting mother. She birthed19 children, I think 10 lived but she was a devoted mom and she deliberately took time with each child.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=feH&ei=fjzaSvibFsTh8AbixtS3BQ&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CA4QBSgA&q=Susannah+wesley&spell=1

 I wish I had known years ago what I know now. And I also wish I would do a better job now then I actually do but everyday I will pray and ask the Lord to take my meager offerings and make them multiply. And every day I trust that He will do just that. I don't live afraid of Him, I live in joy of His presence, continuing to go back to Him because He is the way to life and it's a good life. The Lord gives us a great example on how to love our kids.