Unconditional love is about standing by your loved one through thick and thin, through good and bad times. Ben E. King sang, "When the night has come and the land is dark. And the moon is the only light we'll see; no, I won't be afraid, no, I won't be afraid. Just as long as you stand, stand by me." This kind of love is about stability of emotions; untouched by passing fancies. It's not an infatuation or a crush that vanishes overnight. Unconditional love is immortal, it can never wither or fade. Richard Marx sang, "Wherever you go, whatever you do, I will be right here waiting for you. Whatever it takes, or how my heart breaks, I will be right here waiting for you." The unconditional lover is not afraid to wait, even if his or her love were to go away.
"Stability of emotions" doesn't mean that every day is perfect or that you're constantly in a "honeymoon phase". It means that no matter what, no matter the "passing fancies" or bad days, there will always be that one emotion, that one certainty, that will never go away: love. "I love you because I need you" is shallow. It's saying that you need another person if you want to be happy, it's infatuation. However, the phrase "I need you because I love you" is very different. When you love someone that unconditionally, there is a type of passion like no other. The first part of both phrases is the same: "I love you". Each claims their affection for another person, but the second part turns each utterance into something entirely authentic. "I need you because I love you" is one person saying to another that they don't need them to be happy, but that despite time or distance or joy or pain, their love will never falter. If something goes wrong one day and the person who needs their partner in order to be happy sees that, the relationship is pretty much over. Although, for the person who loves their partner unconditionally, those bad days will always be the ones to make them stronger, showing them as a couple how right for each other they are by their ability to stand beside their friend, no matter what. They want their partner to feel safe and comforted and happy not because they are reliant upon them, but because they have chosen to love them through it all.
Richard (Dick) Marx said, "Wherever you go, whatever you do, I will be right here waiting for you. Whatever it takes, or how my heart breaks, I will be right here waiting for you." On bad days, and there will be bad days because not one of us is perfect, and no matter how hard we try or how nice of a person we strive to be, we will be forced to get up each morning and deal with the cards we've been dealt. No good deed or commitment can change that. And when we do get up every day to face whatever challenge befalls us, occasionally we will fail because we are human, however, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. You have two choices: you can put love out into the world or you can take a day of rest. And sometimes, rest is all any of us needs. Time to do nothing but sit and not think or worry, just to focus on finding harmony. But when those days of rest happen, never forget about the people in your life trying to put love out into the world for you, who want nothing more than for you to know that they are doing so in their desire to send you peace. These are the people who love you because you are a part of them, who wish you to be happy because of the devotion they have towards you. Love doesn't always yell, sometimes it's as quiet as a memory. It hurts to see you sad, it's scary and painful, but I know that one day you'll feel better and we can laugh again, because I love to see you smile, and that day will be so worth it. And how much I wish I could do something, anything, to help, I know that there are times when the only comfort I can give is my devotion and faith in you because I know that you'll always come back.
Unconditional love is amazing and complicated and unexplainable, but the first time I saw you forgive me for my shortcomings, I knew it was something real, and that I would always embrace your beautiful ability to overcome yours.