LAWS OF LIFE

I once had a friend who was dean of a very prestigious school. He planned and saved for years to provide his son the opportunity to attend that institution but the boy refused to go.


Graduating from that particular school would have been a great asset to the boy. Besides, it was a family tradition. The father pleaded and urged and talked. He also tried to listen to the boy to understand him, all the while hoping that the son would change his mind. The subtle message being communicated was one of conditional love. The son felt that in a sense the father’s desire for him to attend the school outweighed the value he placed on him as a person and a son.

After some intense soul searching, the father decided to make a searching- to renounce conditional love. He knew that his son might choose differently than he had wished; nevertheless, he and his wife resolved to love their son unconditionally, regardless of his choice. It was an extremely difficult thing to do because the value of his educational experience was so close to their hearts and because it was something they had planned and worked for since his birth.


The parents went through a difficult time. They communicated to the boy that his decision would not affect their unconditional love for him and they were not doing this to manipulate him or get him to ‘to shape up’.


The boy didn’t give much of a response at first, but a short time later when he felt he no longer had to defend his position he searched within himself more deeply. He founded that he really did want to have this educational experience. He applied for admission and then told his father who again showed unconditional love by accepting his son’s decision. My friend was happy but not excessively so, because he had truly learned to love without condition.



(Taken By The 7 Habits Of Highly Effectively People By STEPHEN R COVEY, Published By SIMON & SCHUSTER.)