Do you have Unconditional Love for Family & Friends

I love all my extended family and closer ones - doesn't mean I accept all their behaviours but who's perfect - I think of them constantly and recall happier days - I am part of them and they of me - who's perfect? - I get great pleasure of thinking of happier days with them all - if that's unconditional then I got it!
 

While training as a Buddhist monk one practice is repeating the phrase we all agreed would benefit the community is "mind empty, heart open, body dancing." Those are aspirations not meant literally. The heart open really helped me accept all of life as a gift and have a heart that loves all. So yes, family, friends, and all people I love with no conditions. That doesn't mean I agree with them all. :)
 
No. I don't believe that exists. If I had given birth to Hitler I wouldn't have loved him. There's always the condition that one is not a total serpent. I love my kids, but they're not monsters. If someone backstabbed me or something or tried to ruin my life I just say: I choose to forgive them and let God do it and if they're not sorry and haven't changed I pray for em but stay out of the way. I used to not do that. I was dumb and naive and let em backstab me again. Now I protect myself and my kids. But that's not my family. I get along with all family members.

Their dad, I couldn't forgive him. I had to say I choose to and then God did it and we got along fine until lately but then I just give that to God and let Him fix that.

I learned that from Corrie ten Boom who had to forgive a Nazi guard who asked her to forgive him after she preached on forgiveness. He was one of the cruelest in the concentration camp where her sister died. She could not but she chose to and then she shook his hand and felt God's love flow. But still I call that conditional. He was not Mengele. He did ask for forgiveness.
 
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Dr.Colosso said:
I learned that from Corrie ten Boom who had to forgive a Nazi guard who asked her to forgive him after she preached on forgiveness. He was one of the cruelest in the concentration camp where her sister died. She could not but she chose to and then she shook his hand and felt God's love flow. But still I call that conditional. He was not Mengele. He did ask for forgiveness.
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The part in bold (above) is the key.
I've posted this in the past and got negative input, but my thoughts will not change:
Luke 17:3 : "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him."
 
MACKTEXAS said:
The part in bold (above) is the key.
I've posted this in the past and got negative input, but my thoughts will not change:
Luke 17:3 : "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him."
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To forgive means to give it back they way it was before (fore-give). To absolve and wipe the slate clean. A full pardon, as it were.

I wonder if Corrie ten Bloom really forgave that Nazi guard for his intentionally cruel heinous acts, or did she accept his apology for the damage done to her life and try to move forward?

In my humble opinion, the guard wasn't forgiven for his acts toward her sister and others who died under his watch. A person can only forgive for the impact a deed has had on us, not for the impact the deeds had on the primary victims.
 
StarSong said:
A person can only forgive for the impact a deed has had on us, not for the impact the deeds had on the primary victims.
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I wouldn't try to guess what was in the mind and heart of Corrie ten Boom, but I agree with the part you wrote above. It's a point seemingly overlooked a lot these days.

I can move on, but there are times when it's a conscious decision to put something out of my mind, not what I would categorize as forgiveness, since nothing was restored.
 
Dr.Colosso said:
I learned that from Corrie ten Boom who had to forgive a Nazi guard who asked her to forgive him after she preached on forgiveness. He was one of the cruelest in the concentration camp where her sister died. She could not but she chose to and then she shook his hand and felt God's love flow. But still I call that conditional. He was not Mengele. He did ask for forgiveness.
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A movie was made about her called The Hiding Place. It's available on Prime Video. I might watch it this evening.

That said, I couldn't forgive people who intentionally and repeatedly committed heinous acts of evil and caused enormous suffering of innocent people who's only "crime" was to be born with a heritage that was made illegal. It wasn't like the perpetrators were simply caught up in the moment and made some mistakes; if that were the case, sure, they should have been forgiven and being punished.

The Nazis committed crimes against humanity on a daily basis and for most of them, they would have continued to do so had they not been arrested and in many cases, executed.

If it makes someone feel better to forgive people who did them wrong, then that's what they should do. But in no way should the legal system forgive the perpetrators. That's just corruption.
 
Lara said:
I have 4 grown children. I love them all unconditionally...or do I?
Three are easy to love. The oldest, is practically impossible but I'm hanging in there. I believe we should love unconditionally. We don't have to like what they do but love them, forgive them, pray for them, yes. And we don't have to be around them...it's best not.
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Back to your original point. I have four grown daughters and yes I love them unconditionally (and my 6 grandchildren as well). I easily overlook any perceived slight on my part. The only times things bother me is when they have arguments or hard feelings about each other, which fortunately is not very often. Family times are the best part of my life!
 
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