Unconditional Love

My students, and being a teacher, has brought a deeper understanding of what it means to love unconditionally.  I always had this picture in my head; the students showering me with gifts and love.  You always hear the stories of all the sweet things the island students do for their teachers.  It seems like it was guaranteed they love you; seems like a silly fantasy now looking back.  It's easy to love when you are being showered in love back; but what happens when you aren't? What if you can't tell if the students like you or not?  what if you can't seem to connect with lots of them and all your efforts of love seem to go unnoticed and they don't care?  I think I for some reason thought I would immediately see payment for all my work with the love they would show me back; but they aren't first graders who love you after you've met once and hug you every day.  They are self absorbed, restless high school student who don't want to be told what to do.  This sheds a whole new light on God's love for me.  Loving when it isn't easy.  How many times has God been pushed away, ignored, bad mouthed, hurt, and rejected by the one's he loves?  I'm sad to say I've done it to Him.  He gave me everything, even sacrificed His own life to save me, and some days I forget to talk to Him.  Wow.  Who am I to expect love back?  Love does not seek it's own.  I shouldn't expect a thing from my students, I should love them unconditionally without any thought or need of payment.  That's what God does.  I want to learn to be more like Him.  This week I only want to think about what I can do for them.  I want to show them a love that isn't looking for reward, but is simply love.  How?  I don't know, but I hope God can teach me.  I want to rid myself of my selfishness and really love unconditionally.