"I honor my parents by obeying," says Christine, 10. "Like when they say to get them some water, I do it. I treat them like a king and queen."

I'll bet Christine's parents treat her like a princess. It's so easy to take parents for granted. Can you imagine a society where the Bart Simpson attitude wasn't glorified? Why imagine when it's within your power to be gracious to your parents instead of disrespectful? They're not perfect, but neither are you.

"I love my mother and father," says Gardner, 11. "They are the best. I try to obey them. I know they love me, and I love them."

Something tells me that Gardner will never visit a psychiatrist's office in an effort to find himself. Because he knows his parents love him unconditionally, he's secure and able to love them in return. Love fosters love.

Years ago, I saw my friend Peter reprimand his 2-year-old son for continuing to throw soapsuds on a car after being told to stop. Peter calmly asked his son to hold out his hand. Following a gentle tap on the hand, his son began to cry.

At first, I was confused because the light tap hardly warranted tears. Suddenly, I understood and said to Peter, "Your disapproval hurts worse than the tap on the hand." He nodded.

Only a father who loves his son can evoke such a response. This is the power of unconditional love.

God's love for his children is akin to parents' love for theirs with one very important difference: Even the best parents have flaws. God is perfect.