On Unconditional Love

Don’t you know how much I love you? Can’t you feel it, in your heart, in your bones, in your soul? You know, you must know how wonderful you are, how amazing. You are My child, you are My love. You were made for good; you were made to have a miraculous, blessed, fulfilled life.

Like most people, I’ve made some poor choices in my life and failed at what feels like so many things, disappointing myself, and no doubt others, in the process. No one is better than me at keeping track of the mistakes I’ve made and the people I’ve hurt. And while I’m usually hard-pressed to think of what’s right with me, I can readily recite a laundry list of what’s wrong. For years I believed that I could never make up for these failings, never atone for being me. And as a result, it was hard to believe that anyone, especially a Higher Power, could love me a little, let alone love me unconditionally.

I spent a long time – too long – holding on to this “truth” of mine. I missed out on so much. Choosing to believe that my mistakes meant that I was inferior, fatally flawed, and unlovable robbed me of a close relationship with the one thing/person/entity – a Higher Power - that could and would give me exactly what I needed and longed for.

The real truth is that I’m my own biggest obstacle to receiving the love that I want, need and deserve. I think nothing of savagely criticizing myself in instances where I would show compassion and understanding to others. I practice giving others grace, but rarely, if ever, bestow it upon myself. Does that ring true for you too?

Like me, it may be hard for you to believe that who we are, how we are, is no secret to the Higher Power that created us, and that He loves us anyway. Despite our perceived flaws and shortcomings. Or perhaps because of them. Every detail about us, the good, the bad, the ugly and the shameful, is known to God, is no surprise to Him. Being known in this way may seem terrifying, but that kind of intimate relationship gives us each the freedom to just be – the magnificent, flawed, lovable being that He created and loves truly, madly, deeply, unconditionally.