This little sign hangs on our front door, in our our tiny tiled entryway. My daughter stuck it there three months ago, and if you can’t make it out, here’s what it says:

I love you because you are you.

It’s the title of one of her picture books, and this saying greets me coming and going each day. It reminds me of the love that we have for each other, that beyond anything we do or give to each other, we love each other just because. We fail each other, we help each other. In our best moments, we are self-sacrificing; at our worst, we are self-seeking and rude. Beyond our kept or broken expectations, we love each other simply because we do. This love covers over a multitude of shortcomings and sins, fears and failures. It carries us through to forgiveness.

When I fail as a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend…when I see my own mess of a life clearly, it’s easy to get down, to give up, to feel fear. But there’s something about this line that always comforts me. It reminds me that I’m included in my family’s grace for each other. This quote always brings to mind this passage from Titus chapter 3:

4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Sometimes I’m so disheartened by my failures and my faults that I don’t move from repentance to joy in the Gospel. I lose sight of the fact that God loves me for me, not because of what I’ve done or not done. It’s not at all what I’ve done, but what God has done for me. This kind of love lifts me up and rescues me from myself. It’s pure balm to know that God’s love is not conditional…it’s unchanging, steadfast, sure. It is everything I’m not, and still, it’s for me.

Knowing this means I can finally be still. Knowing this means rest for my tired soul. Knowing this means my life can be motivated by God’s love, not by pride or self-assurance or fear.

To be loved and known, understood and appreciated, cherished and cared for…that’s a deep need we all have. It’s met partly by our spouses, children, family and friends, but only completely and perfectly by God’s love for us. It’s a love that passes our understanding, but was proved by Jesus, who loved us simply “because” we are His.