I think you are confusing resepct as something one "earns" in human terms. In those terms, we are unworthy of God's love, as I am sure we all agree. But God doesn't follow our style or logic! Lucky for us!
Although you said you didn't respect your children, but loved them nonetheless, I say you are deceiving yourself because you did respect their humanity, their space, and their rights.
The whole concept of human rights -- universal respect for all human beings as equals -- is grounded in love for your neighbor as for yourself, in the idea that God gave each and every human bieng this earth and that we all have wqual right to this world.
I repeat: you cannot separate respect from love; where there is love, there is respect. Now, you speak of "different kinds" of love and I gree. Conditional love is based on conditional respect. But unconditional love is inseparable from unconditional respect.
God's love for humanity is unievrsal and unconditional, because nothing we can do can "justify" or "earn" His love for us. As such, His respect for his creation is equally unconditional.
I don't think I'm confusing anything, I just think we use the word differently. That's OK.
Although you said you didn't respect your children [as newborns], but loved them nonetheless, I say you are deceiving yourself because you did respect their humanity, their space, and their rights.
Same thing. Yes, I "respect" the FACT that they are humans, but that is using the word in a completely different sense. I thought you were saying that God has "respect" for us because of merit, but you're saying that is not the case. Why am I wrong to use "respect" in human terms? Is there Biblical support for God "respecting" us?
BTW, regarding my (now) teenagers, I actually have zero "respect" for their space or their rights! As a benevolent dictator, I will allow them to make certain mistakes, even if I know in advance and can prevent it. This is how they will learn some very valuable lessons. However, on any serious matter, or if any injury might be involved, then I will disrespect their spaces, rights, and anything else in order to save them from themselves. This has already happened with both of them. :)