Is there someone in your life that you can truly say you love unconditionally? Do you have someone in your life whom you know loves you unconditionally?
First, we must consider the meaning of unconditional love. According to Wikipedia, unconditional love is a term that means to love someone regardless of the loved one's qualities or actions. Love with no limitations.
So, if we know someone loves us unconditionally, meaning they will love us no matter what we do, what we say, or how we act, does this give us the right to treat them anyway we wish? Can we treat them with disrespect, have no consideration for their feelings, and be brutally honest without any filtration? If it is truly unconditional love then the answer would be yes.
The first true example of unconditional love that springs to mind is that of a parent for a child. Regardless of what that child does, the parent still loves them. How many weeping mothers have you seen or heard about whose sons or daughters have committed unspeakable crimes like murder and rape, and yet they still vow their undying love for that child. Those who have never experienced unconditional love may gawk and stammer, “How could you love an individual who would commit such horrible acts?” The answer, unconditional love.
It would seem reasonable then that we should be more thankful and considerate to those who we know love us unconditionally. Should we not honor that unconditional love with respect, thoughtfulness, and consideration instead of using that unconditional love to vent our own frustrations, anger, and everyday stress? It would seem so; however, that is seldom how it works out. If you really look around you or stop and examine your own relationships, you may find that the exact opposite is true. Those whom love us unconditionally and whom we love unconditionally are usually the ones we treat the worst. We don’t stop before we speak, we don’t think of their feelings first, we simply react any way we choose because we know that no matter how big the argument, how hurtful the actions, tomorrow they will still love us. With two simple words, “I’m sorry”, all is again right with the universe. Often times, we don’t even bother to say those words, we just assume those who love us unconditionally know we are sorry.
Then there are those in our lives that we love conditionally and that love us conditionally. If we do the right things, say the right things, act the right way, we will be rewarded with their love and approval. However, if we disappoint them in any one of these areas then their love vanishes or becomes diminished in some capacity. We deal with this kind of love on an everyday basis. At work, at school, at social gatherings, even family gatherings. Everyone plays nice and everyone goes home happy. Furthermore, if we make a specifically inconvenient request of someone with whom we have conditional love vs. someone with whom we share unconditional love, which one would be the most likely to help us out? Then again, would we even bother to ask the one with whom we experience conditional love, because we would not want to inconvenience them for fear their love may diminish in some way.
God showed the world the ultimate act of love when he gave us His only Son to die for our sins. Could anyone of us as a parent do the same? It is doubtful. However, many of us could and would give our own lives for that of our child or someone whom we love unconditionally. In truth, unconditional love is probably the most sought after kind of love among human beings. To have someone care more about your happiness than his or her own is truly a gift. Just as God sacrificed His Son as a gift for our eternal life, we should be willing to love unconditionally. Furthermore, we should be more diligent in appreciating those who willingly love us unconditionally.
When was the last time you told someone whom you know loves you unconditional that you love them? When was the last time you did something for no reason for someone who loves you unconditionally? Now think, when was the last time you did something meaningful for someone who loves you conditionally?
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Just thoughts to ponder as you travel through life.
