The term “Unconditional Love” is expressed a lot. It has been so for ages. The first question is just what is love? Webster states: strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties. Attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers. The object of attachment, devotion, or admiration. These definitions many times are added to, subtracted from, and altered to fit the scenario of the one defining love. I love my wife and love my children. Also, I love our dog. I love ice cream and cookies. When I began my journey into the study of Spirituality, I began to add to these loves. I discovered that I love sunrises and sunsets. Have a love of listening to jazz and old time spirituals.
Then I discovered that we are all spiritual beings. As such, we are all individual expressions of love and one with all that exists. This means that, no matter what we show on the outside, we all have God in us. “Why, then, does God make horrible people?” He doesn’t! He births us into this human experience of our eternal life and at the same time gifts us with free will. Because we now have free will, we are free to do and be anything that we choose. Even miserable, if that is what we choose. The most vile of people still have The Christ in them. Their free will has just taken them into a horrible place in life. BUT, it was and is their choice.
“But, aren’t we taught that we should love everyone? How can we when someone chooses to do the most unspeakable things?” We are not advised to like everything or everyone that we meet. God shows unconditional love. We love The Christ that is in each and every one of us. Then we move on. “How can I do this and then just move on?” I use the shortened version of the 3rd Step. Just saying “God help me.” Then move on. Moving on could include saying a prayer for the other. Then putting the mind onto something completely different.
“Ok, so what is unconditional love and how do I express it?” Did you ever see a dog that is kicked or yelled at? Very quickly it is wagging its tail and trying to lick the abuser. This is unconditional love. The pup puts no conditions at all on its love for its owner. It just shows Unconditional love is best expressed by someone who asks his or her Higher Power for help. Then takes the asked for help. I can say a prayer for the miscreant. Then move on to other things immediately. This gets my thoughts off the so called offender. We have discussed before about the power of thought. Thought is the most powerful part of a human being.
This all boils down to change your thoughts, change your life! Practice is simple and continued practice makes it easier. Simply say the shortened version of the 3rd Step, “God Help me.” Then let Him. God bless you!
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