![]() They are in very truth, two in one flesh and where there is but one flesh there is also but one spirit. Nothing divides them, either in flesh or in Spirit. They are as brother and sister, both servants of the same Master. “How beautiful, then, the marriage of two Christians, two who are one in hope, one in desire, one in the way of life they follow, one in the religion they practice. Church Father Tertullian wrote of this sort of marriage, If the marriage is healthy, unconditional love moves the spouses to forgive each other and help one another overcome ingrained habits and difficult behavioral patterns. Sometimes it is disagreements and bad habits or behaviors that really irritate us. Marriage isn’t always romance and smiles. Husbands and wives understand this very well ( 1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Unconditional love forgives our errors, and even our downright nasty attitudes at times. The third characteristic of unconditional love is that of operative mercy and grace. ![]() Even punishments are designed to reinforce the need to conform to the highest standards for ourselves, even if it doesn’t feel so altruistic in the moment. If they get bad grades, they know their mom and dad will be upset, but they’re only upset because they want their children to do their best, and to reap the benefits of diligent study and hard work. Children in a healthy, stable home instinctively know their parents are a safe harbor. A good example of this is the parent-child relationship. When the beloved knows that their lover seeks their highest good, even when they stand to gain absolutely nothing by it, they begin to feel safe and secure in that relationship. ![]() This brings us to the second characteristic of unconditional love. It is selfless, doing whatever is necessary (and sometimes going above and beyond that) to support, comfort, and generally benefit the beloved. ![]() Sometimes there is personal benefit in it, but more often, that isn’t the case. It seeks the highest good of the beloved, even if that highest good is at some cost to the lover. The best way to define unconditional love is by examining its character. What is unconditional love? What Is Unconditional Love? Christians believe that God loved us unconditionally, but few can really define it. Everyone wants to be loved, and we all hope that those who love us do so unconditionally. ![]()
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