TODAY IS…

a superb day to say, “I Love You”.

“He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.”  Colossians 1:8 NLT

“I Love You.”

Three little words with a true meaning that is so large it cannot be adequately described. They are three of the most overused words in the English language, and yet they are also three of the most under-used words in the English language.

The ability to love is most assuredly one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind. More valuable than all of the silver and all of the gold that can ever be found on earth. More precious than all of the diamonds, rubies, and emeralds put together.

Love is more durable than the mightiest of oaks that has endured decades of wind and sun and has survived the most brutal of storms. And yet it is fragile, like a delicately blown piece of glass.

Running out the door in the morning, or in hurried telephone conversations, we sincerely, but casually, murmur “Love You!”, turning three powerful words, that should be filled with our most honest and heartfelt emotions, into two words added to the end of a sentence with the banality of “Goodbye” or “See ya.”

Your spouse faces battles with you.

They share not only your bed, but also your pain, worries, sorrow, joy, laughter, and tears. If you have children, you participated in the creation of life with the abilities given as a gift from God. You have seen your spouse at his or her best, and at his or her worst. They may be as comfortable and familiar as a favorite sweatshirt or pair of jeans, but if you look close, you will see that bright spot of newness that was there when first you fell in love.

Take that person’s face in your hands, look them in the eyes and tell them how much you love them. Let them see how deep your love is and let them know that you are thankful to God for being able to love them as much as you do.

Take the time, too, to make sure your children understand that while you may not always agree with them, and while you may not always like the choices they make, you do always love them with a fierceness and a protectiveness that comes from God.

Make them understand how important they are.

And for everyone else around you, show them the love that God has placed inside you by the way you walk, talk, and act. Everything you do and say should be telling others that you love them.

There are different ways in which we love everyone around us, but that love – that ability – comes from the same source.

“I Love You.”

Three words God wants us all to use wisely, and to use often.

*******

Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Author’s Note: 4/4/2020

Many devotions lately seem especially relevant and important these days, but none more so than this one. I can think of nothing harder than saying a final “Goodbye” to a loved one via walky-talky, Facetime, simply on the phone, through a window, or – in many sad cases today – not at all. When a loved one is sick, we are supposed to be able to sit with them, hold their hand, and tell them over and over how much we love them.

I think, if I were dying, the last words I would want to hear before I joined God in His kingdom would be my children saying, “I love you.”

And the last words I would want to say would be, “I love you too.”

I pray anyone reading this will take advantage of God’s gift of this day and use those three words with meaning, with ferocity, and with deliberation.

“I love you.”

May God watch over us all and give us the strength and comfort we will need during these especially trying times.