To Love Like a Puppy or Child Does
Monday Prompt: What are the conditions of unconditional love?
Oh, this is interesting. Seems we have a bit of an oxymoron here. And that’s ok. Good even, because this is something I like the idea of delving into. I don’t think there are any conditions of unconditional love.
Mum’s love for her children
I’ve been speaking quite a bit, lately, on the love a mom has for her children. Or at least, how a mom ‘should’ treat their children. Love their children. This, too, is where I think unconditional love is something to delve into.
Parental love
The love I have for my children is unconditional. Do I lose my cool with them, even though they’re adults? You bet I do. Do I ever dislike them? I’m not sure, I know I dislike their actions. But I love them no matter what. Even when they yell at me, or are rude in other ways. They’re my kids and I can’t imagine turning off my love for them.
Now lets come at it from the other side. Let’s talk about the unconditional love a young child has for their parents.
Child’s love
It is unconditional. It doesn’t matter if the child gets ridiculed or abused, they still want the approval of their parents. They still love their parents.
I think it’s beautiful how they forgive us when we lose our patience and yell at them. They can even spout off back. It’s kind of adorable when a two-year-old says some gobbledygook in a fit of tempter, and then one minute later turns around and comes to give us some love. All is forgiven. All is forgotten.
That’s where I fall off the unconditional love wagon. I don’t forgive quickly, or forget. It takes me a while. I still love them. But not with the same abandon of small children.
Puppy love
What about the love a dog can have for their ‘people’ parents? The same thing happens with dogs. They are so happy whenever they see us. Ready to give and receive that love despite how we might have ignored them, yelled at them. And perhaps, smacked them.
Cats? I’m pretty sure they’ll just slash a hand or two and take off. I don’t think they forgive as readily as the dog.
Unconditional love
So once again, I’ll say, I don’t believe there are any conditions in unconditional love. None. Not if it’s unconditional. If you have to put a condition on it, it’s not unconditional. Unless you consider the condition I’ve placed on it. In which case then I can’t see a way to have unconditional love.
But no matter what. Loving as much and true as a young child, or a dog, is what I hope to recover when I grow up.