Unconditional Love

One major step in Chiropractic is learning to love. Truly love yourself and others in a healthy manner. This requires commitment and often times patience. True love lasts forever, has no boundaries and is given to all.

The only way love can last a lifetime is if it’s unconditional. The truth is this: Love is not determined by the one being loved but rather the one choosing to love.

This statement shows us that love is a choice that we must make. We can choose to love or not to love. If we choose to not love, we are choosing the opposite of love which is hate. On the other hand, we can choose love and when we do, what type of love are we choosing:

Three types of love: phileo (friendship) and eros (sexual love) and agape (unconditional love). Phileo and eros are more responsive in nature and can fluctuate based upon feelings. Agape love, on the other hand, is selfless and unconditional… Agape love is “in sickness and health” love, “for richer or poorer” love, “for better or worse” love. It is the only kind of love that is true love.

That’s because this is God’s kind of love. He doesn’t love us because we are lovable but because He is so loving…. If a man says to his wife, “I have fallen out of love with you,” he is actually saying, “I never loved you unconditionally (emphasis added) to begin with.” His love was based on feelings or circumstances rather than commitment. That’s the result of building a marriage on Phileo or eros love. There must be a stronger foundation than mere friendship or sexual attraction. Unconditional love, agape love, will not be swayed by time or circumstance.

This passage originally intended to help married couples lays groundwork for loving others, regardless of marital status. When we truly have agape love, not only is it unconditional, but we will not waver to tell the truth in a caring manner, share life’s experiences with each other, build a love that transcends all and is deeply rooted. Trees with deep, intricate roots grow strong and tall and last the longest.

This is God’s, kind of love. And thankfully–by choice–it can become your kind of love. But first you must receive it and share it.

This final statement is pivotal to agape (unconditional) love. It must be shared. Otherwise it is not love at all, but rather narcissism.

(The indented portions of today’s Simple Truth are from the book The Love Dare, by Stephen and Alex Kendrick.)