All people love at one time or another but few love as deeply as they did when a child--unconditionally.

When I think of my dad, a warmth envelopes me--the depth and variety of his unconditional love. I feel young, cherished and immortal because he’s with me, watching over me. It’s the purest form of love--loving someone ‘as they are,’ with all their quirks and imperfections. How rare is that simple ecstasy of ‘just loving without expectation’ outside of childhood.
“Mature” or adult love is often intertwined with lust, greed, sexual needs, desperation, etc. Just because one is older doesn’t mean one is wiser.
‘In sickness and in health, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, forsaking all others, until death do us part, I thee wed.’ The marriage vow is sacred to me . . . I have promised, before God, to put my husband FIRST for the rest of my life! Not for this day or that or just when it’s convenient--but EVERY day in EVERY way. I have kept my vow for my sake, his sake and for God’s sake. A vow ‘blessed’ by God isn’t one to take lightly.
When children become part of our lives, they are ‘gifts’ from God, a blessing, whom we each should welcome with ‘unconditional love’. We have no guarantee as to how long they will be in our care, how they will behave when they grow up or that they will love us in return. However, children learn what they live. Many times when you see and get to know a child, they are miniatures of one parent or the other.
After being so coddled, cherished, with ‘unconditional love,’ it’s how I love in return--as a child does . . . totally, sincerely and with no expectation of anything in return. Obviously, one so trusting does have one expectation which is to be loved in return.
All life is a ‘give & take’ cycle--one thing dependent upon another, etc. In our haste to ‘do it all’ and/or ‘have it all,’ we often ‘take’ and forget to ‘give’ back time, love, friendship, compassion, etc.
Unfortunately, as ‘mature’ adults, we are not as forgiving as children. We hold grudges have expectations, schedules and, soon, another friendship has fallen to the wayside. Perhaps the children, with their ability to forgive and forget so easily, are the more mature among us.
I’m older but the child in my thrives. When I share my thoughts, my feelings, my words, my life, I do so ‘unconditionally’. It is not in my heart to attempt to change anyone. You’ve appealed to me as yourself. Why would I wish to change anything about you?
That’s not to say you are perfect or that I am. I honestly do not believe any human is totally perfect--inside or out. We each have our own quirks or imperfections but love one another in spite of them. At least, I do.
I am who I am and I am in the image of He who created me. To those whose path has crossed mine--family and friends--thank you for enriching my life. To those whose path has crossed mine but chose to pass me by (for whatever reason)--thank you also for allowing me to interface with you. I’m richer, by far, for all of those whose lives have touched mine in any way, shape or form.
There is no room in my life or heart for hate but there are those whose actions or words have hurt. I will pray for help in dealing with it. There is no room for such negatives when one is filled with unconditional love.