Since Valentines Day is just weeks away I thought I’d take a moment and talk about love. Love is discussed all of the time. You hear about it on television and the radio, you read about it in books. There are so many different types of love. You can love your friends, your car, chocolate, and of course your family. The love I want to focus on is unconditional love for your spouse and children. In fact showing unconditional love is one of the ten things that happy families do.
Unconditional love means that you love your children and spouse no matter what. Your love and attention is not based on certain criteria being met. It means that you do not withhold your love if you are not happy with your spouse or children’s behavior.
I recently read a book titled “The Peacegiver.” The author talked about how no matter what your spouse or children may do to you, you still have a choice whether to love them or not. Your love should not be dependant upon their actions. This is definitely easier to say than to do. I will be the first to admit that it is difficult to love my spouse when he has done something that hurts my feelings or to love my children when they have just willfully disobeyed. But I have to remind myself that their actions do not determine my reaction.
Of course there are times when you have to discipline your children, but it is important that you express your love afterwards. I remember as a child that my dad always told me he loved me after I was disciplined. Because of this I knew that my parents would love me no matter what choices I made.
When I got married my dad gave me a few words of advice and one of them was to not give my spouse the silent treatment and the same goes for your children. He told me that love was a conscious choice that I would need to make on a daily basis. I have found that his advice is really true. Although it isn’t always easy to love unconditionally it is worth it.
See these related blogs:
14 Ways To Show Your Kids You Love Them
Making Valentines Day Special For Your Children
10 Things She Needs From Her Husband