Have you ever felt the weight of expectations pulling you in opposite directions—one from a parent and the other from your relationship with God? For many, navigating the tension between honoring a parent’s wishes and living in alignment with God’s unconditional love can feel overwhelming. This struggle is especially profound when a parent’s expectations are rooted in obligation, control, or unmet needs, leaving us questioning the true nature of love.

Is love a duty to fulfill or a gift to be received freely? This question lies at the heart of Finding Freedom in Love: Untangling Mother’s Expectations and God’s Grace. Love is a word often used, but rarely understood. For some, it is associated with sacrifice, guilt, and obligation. For others, it represents freedom, connection, and joy. This book explores the tension between these two ideas, particularly as it manifests in the complex dynamics of the parent-child relationship and our spiritual relationship with God.

The conflict between parental expectations and spiritual relationship: From a young age, many of us are taught to honor and obey our parents. While this principle is rooted in Scripture, it is often misapplied, leaving us with a sense of obligation that may not reflect the love God intends for us. When a parent’s expectations are rooted in control or their own unmet needs, we can become entangled in patterns of guilt, resentment, or confusion. At the same time, God invites us into a relationship of grace, where love is freely given and freely received. How do we reconcile these two relationships, especially when they seem to be in conflict?

In this book, we’ll challenge the idea that love is something we owe, whether to a parent or to God. Instead, we’ll redefine love as an act of freedom—one that flows from mutual respect, grace, and connection. True love is not about repayment or duty; it is about choosing to honor and value relationships in a way that reflects God’s character.