As a child growing up, did your mom and dad drive you about half crazy repeating themselves time and again? Did they tell you the same exact things over and over?

My parents did that to me. You know why? Because they loved me!

Mom and dad repeated themselves because although I was in the room with them and it appeared that I was listening, so often I really wasn't. The sound waves may have been bouncing off of my ears but I tended to be easily distracted and as a result I was missing most of what they said. I was prone to space off and zone out. Sometimes I still do. How about you?

Due to my extremely short attention span, dad and mom repeated the same things to me over and over time and again. However, it didn't seem to bother them. Maybe because I was the fourth child in the family and they had gone through it before. But, more than that I think it was simply because what they had to say was incredibly important for my health and survival.

I can't tell you how many times they told me, "Don't talk to strangers!".

Didn't your parents tell you that as well? Over and over, "Don't talk to strangers!"

My parents would always tell me, "Look both ways before you cross the street."

I tell my kids that same thing over and over and over and I'm sure you do to. It doesn't matter how old someone gets, mom and dad are always going to tell them, "Look both ways before you cross the street!" along with "Wash your hands after going to the bathroom."

After telline me to wash my hands, they would typically add in "and use soap!" Then after a short pause, my dad would add "And water!"

Over and over I heard those things and you did too. Why? Because our parents loved us and wanted the best for us. Because of this, my folks repeated themselves a little more than a lot.

"Wash you hands. Look Both ways. Don't talk to strangers. Eat your vegetables. Use soap!"

If you are now a parent and you love your kids you now find yourself following in the footsteps of mom and dad. Right?

You persistently and consistently repeat yourself to your kiddos because you love them like crazy, you want to protect them, and you want the best for them.

Do you realize that God does the same thing as earthly parents at times. Have you noticed that God is prone to repeat Himself time and again in Scripture? Have you noticed some major recurring themes when it comes to practical every day life?

As you've read through the Bible, have you noticed how many times were told to love one another? In a variety of ways we are told to love one another. By one another I mean loving our neighbors as ourselves and even loving our enemies. Love is such a high priority we are told that above all else we are to fervent love for one another..

Why would Father see fit to repeat Himself so often? For the same reason your mom and dad repeated themselves so often.

As a kid, washing my hands didn't come naturally. It was something I had to learn. Over the process of time and much instruction I began to understand the importance of it. But let me tell ya, I was a very slow learner.

In some ways, is it the same way with love? Think about it. How natural is it for any of us to love our enemies?

Although it might not come any more naturally than washing your hands and using soap, it's probably a lot more important in the long run.

When I look at myself in the mirror and peak at the world around me, I can't help but think that we are all very slow learners.