Unconditional love

My thought of this week is the parent unconditional love ie The love of our heavenly father. I asked for a life partner. He gives me the most supportive, loving and humorous husband I can imagine – those characteristics which I wanted in my life partner. Funny how money was not one of the requirements hmmmmm... I have asked for a mentor. He not only answers my request but also gives me a world class mentor. It triggers me to think of how great is his love. When we have faith in him, he not only would answer our prayers but also give us the best available. Often, I felt I am not worthy of his love as I do not do much to deserve it. I suppose it is what it means by unconditional love. When we love without expectation, without any conditions… it is not about what others can do for us or what we can get out of them. No matter how much the other party has contributed or given us or loved us, we still love him or her. How wonderful is this love.

In this materialistic world, it is getting more and more difficult to love unconditionally. A child will not feel loved if he or she cannot get the latest gadget (eg Ipod or handphone) from the parents. A girlfriend felt the boyfriend does not love her if he does not buy her presents or roses during her birthday or valentines day. A wife does not feel loved if she does not receive a diamond ring from the husband. (Another awareness: It is a tough life being a man but that is another chapter.. hehehe). Yes, material things = love. No material things mean no love.

I used to think in a similar way. My husband says why couldn’t everyday be our birthday or a valentines day or Christmas. I know he is only using this as an excuse for not buying me anything. But it does make sense. Yes, why we cannot make everyday special. Why do we have to wait for the special day to express our love? Why not say it everyday? Now, I do not need material things from him to feel loved. Because he shows me every day, as often as he can that he loves me. He demonstrates his love in his own inconspicuous ways. One latest example is his cooking for the CV sharing. He is an introvert and value his privacy highly. However, when I say I want to do a potluck at our house, he not only says he will cook (as he knows I cant cook very well) but also ensures I do whatever necessary to make the guests feel welcome. He silently supports me from behind. This is what I defined as real love and I treasure. When we leave this world, it is really how we show up in our life. I know how my husband has shown up in my life. The question to myself now is how am I showing up in his life…….