describes agape love. His great love.
His mercy. His grace. These words took
on a whole new meaning as I began to
come to a true understanding of just
how much God really does love me.
And that is the heart of Christ’s love
for me: He truly loves me without limit.
The Power of Unconditional Love and
Acceptance
Unconditional love is powerful stuff.
After a particularly difficult situation at
work, Barb showed me unconditional
love.
Her response helped me feel safe in
the midst of a lightning storm. Her love
allowed me to be honest. It established
a comfortable environment for open
communication between us. Her love
reminded me that I wasn’t ultimately in
charge—the Lord was. It reminded me
that her commitment truly was for bad
times as well as good.
Don’t misunderstand. Barb certainly
had to deal with her own share of
fear and uncertainty during that time
in our life. But if she had rejected me
or, maybe even worse, been neutral
and unresponsive to me, I would have
felt lonely and isolated. Her rejection
would have built a wall that would have
weakened our intimacy and trust.
What You Can Do to Meet Your Husband’s
Needs
Your response, initiative, and con-
nection to your husband are crucial to
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the health of your marriage and family.
Your expression of your unconditional
love and acceptance is the very force
that will drive you together in the midst
of the testing times in your marriage.
Your standing with him in the painful
times, as well as the good times, is
one of the primary elements of a great
marriage.
At times this means putting aside
your own needs in order to meet his.
It means resisting your tendency to be
selfish and self-protective. But if you
love unconditionally in the hard times,
you and your husband will become one
in the kind of intimacy the Lord desires
for you. If you don’t, you will end up
living like two immature children,
each trying to get your own way and
resenting the other person when you
don’t. You may still be married, but
you will miss out on the joy of a great
marriage.
Your husband
“ desperately
needs
to know that you
will accept him no
matter what.”
Your husband desperately needs to
know that you will accept him no matter
what. Even when he fails or makes poor
decisions. Even when he feels crummy
about himself or disappoints you.
Your love is a make-or-break reality.
Your inability or refusal to love will
cripple him and tear him apart. Your
unconditional love and acceptance