barbed arrows

dan and jodie wrapped up class until september...the following are some thoughts that hit home and are chaffing within...
*first we must have covenant, commitment to one another, for the love thing to work
*"unity is a condition, not a goal"--"maintaining the oneness (that all parties agreed on in the covenant) brings maturity"
*love is a deliberate choice...and should be visible
*so then i ask the question: what to do when the other party(s) decide not to continue in the covenant?
*well, back to earlier lessons, i am to love as Christ loved/s me: unconditionally; this includes loving when the other person doesn't love me back
*ask the question of the other person: "what do you need in order to be loved today?"
*with the note: "if you are under someone's judgment it is almost impossible to remain in relationship"
*remember: God never changes. therefore, His command to me to love my neighbor doesn't change. and so, somehow, i can grow in loving even if i don't feel loved back, and even if i don't want to.