Emma has just finished reading Home the sequel to Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. She was so moved by the book, she has written an essay which you can download here Download Home - essay.
"...And then, there is the dying father, watching his son's suffering and unable to prevent it. He says, "I can't enjoy the thought of heaven like I should, leaving so much unattended to here, I know it's wrong to think your mother's going to ask me about it...I was hoping I would be able to tell her Jack has come home." Jack sat pondering his father, and there was something in his face more absolute than gentleness or compassion, something purged of all the words that might describe it. Finally, (Jack) said, whispered, "I hope you will give her my love." The old man nodded. "Yes. I will certainly do that."
And perhaps, this is, at its core the only certain thing - love, and that home is not a temporal thing where a parent protects a child from harm, but a psychological one; where the child and the parent look at each other, despite their differences, frailties and failings with compassion and love. This, in fact, is where we find grace, our destiny and finally, 'home'. and this may be what Robinson wants the reader to understand about the nature of God's grace: it is more absolute than gentleness or compassion, something purged of all words that might describe it."