I love you because...I love you just because

Last night after looking over a take home test that Ryan had just completed I gave him a hug and told him I loved him. He responded, "you love me because I got all the answers right?". I said, "no, I would love you even if you got them all wrong. I love you no matter what you do". This made me think... how many times to do we only say the words when they have done something sweet, or something wrong (while we are punishing them). They need to hear it "just because". My boys are analytical thinkers. They dissect and mull over every little statement. They aren't great at reading emotions and body language from others, so instead they attempt to interpret the words and actions of others to give them clues to the ultimate meanings and feelings. For the rest of us, this may sound foreign and tedious, but for them, it is the only way they know how to deal with a world that makes no sense.