"Unconditional Love"

Does unconditional love exist between human beings? Some think so and others do not, which is not surprising. I think I need to describe what it means and how it is used before I can even go any farther. And from my understanding, it means to love someone regardless of the loved ones qualities or actions.

A mother’s love for her child is the most commonly used scenario. So, let’s explore that. If the mother’s love is in the right place from the beginning, then, I believe that unconditional love can exist. But the key is if. (Hmm…That looks like a condition, huh?) I would find it very difficult to believe otherwise. As we all have heard or even experienced as parents, children can be a disappointment. Some even continue on the road to self destruction after they have ‘grown up’ and it certainly causes a great deal of heartache and pain. But, do they stop loving the child? I don’t think so.

I can’t leave it at that, though, not without looking at things from the child’s point of view. When children do wrong, who is to blame? It’s not always the child’s fault. Ultimately, being the figures of authority and guidance, we as parents, should take responsibility for who our children are up until once they are grown. We are to respect our parents as children, but parents are also charged with respecting the children. When we don’t, life can be pretty ugly for a very long time, even for a lifetime.

Another way unconditional love is described is with family members but this is much more difficult to maintain. I have seen so many family members that have not spoken to other family members for decades. When these stories are shared with me as to why…Sometimes I can understand, but I also keep in mind there are always two sides to every story. And there are a couple other relationships that unconditional love that some say can exist like comrades in arms or people in highly committed relationships. But, the just of all this is…

Unconditional love is, more often than not, conditional, and that voids the whole idea. Unconditional love cannot exist between couples who are romantically involved, especially if they are married. The idea of exchanging vows automatically puts conditions on that love relationship. There is no way around that. For anyone to try to see it differently, they are only headed for disappointment and heartache, and sooner or later, they will be heartbroken.

Unconditional love is dependent on so many variables that it makes it almost impossible to achieve. As mentioned earlier, a mother’s love is the only love that can even come close and even that is dependent on the mother’s love in the beginning. My Mother was never a strong believer that blood was thicker than water. The only side she ever had taken with any of us siblings was the “right side”. She never pampered us when we got into trouble when it of our own doing. She always told us, “You know the difference between right and wrong. If you do wrong, you must pay the consequences and in turn, when you do right, you will also reap the rewards.”

Maybe for some, unconditional love between lovers does exist or it can. But for me, personally, I have a difficult time believing that it can ever exist between lovers. But, as I have also said, unconditional love is dependent on so many variables, that that in itself makes it all but possible.