The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance.
~ Brian Tracy
After developing a loving relationship with myself, nothing has been of more importance than my relationship with my husband, Chuck. It is the foundation upon which I have grown in so many ways – personally, professionally and spiritually.
In my experience, the purpose of marriage is to support each other’s personal growth and evolvotion into who we really are meant to be.
In his sermon at the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Bishop of London confirmed my belief by saying “Marriage is intended to be a way in which man and woman help each other to become what God meant each one to be, their deepest and truest selves…“
If nurturing each other’s deepest, truest self is the purpose of marriage, unconditional love is the fertilizer used to waters each partner’s highest potential.
“What’s that?”, you say! What does it mean to love unconditionally? But, what if I am doing all the giving? Shouldn’t I expect to receive love equally in return? Not if you wish to cultivate a healthy relationship. Worrying about whether you are receiving as much as you are giving is probably a clear indication that you either don’t really love the other person or they haven’t given you reason to believe they love you.
Unconditional love, which is actually unconditional giving, means we choose to give what the other needs without asking in return. In other words, it is a love that sends no bill in return.
The over-powering desire to give is at the very core of love. It may not be so important that we need someone to love us as that we need to feel free to express our naturally-loving nature, to have someone who is willing to receive our love.
Love is so essential to happiness and fulfillment that to be without someone to give to is the cause of many people’s misery. This does not have to be an intimate partner. It could be a best friend, family member or a child.
If you feel you don’t have enough love in your life, consider whether you may be a bit too miserly in expressing your loving nature. When you give love, do you do it in a way that “sends a bill in return?”
While unconditional loving is the goal, remember we are not perfect people, only striving to improve. Moving toward our intention to love without strings will increase and deepen the opportunity to experience truly loving, supportive relationships.