Just say it...

Welcome to those of you stopping over after reading my devotional, More Than Words, at the Encouragement Cafe. It was a joy to share a bit about my little guy's new favorite game - "Love Ya, Beat Ya!" (You can read it HERE.) I'm working to enjoy these moments, but I'm also still learning in the midst of them.

 The Official "Love Ya, Beat Ya" Inventor

You see, though my little guy needed to understand that love was more than words, I've been reminded that I too need to say, "I love you." I grew up in a loving home, but we rarely expressed it. I tend to be a private person who finds it hard to share from my heart and express appreciation. God's helped me grow in this area and now I can easily say the 3 little words to my husband and children, but I still struggle sharing them outside the walls of our house.

As I was thinking about this, God brought someone to mind to start with and led me to share through writing. I began putting my message together and then believed the lie that it didn't matter, so I set it aside. In time, I found myself writing again and suddenly in mid-sentence an old question entered my mind, "What will she think?" I recognized this and realized I was worrying about what others would think and then a new question entered my mind, "Jill, would you appreciate these words?" I sensed a quick "Yes" and went on to finish the message.

I then whispered a prayer and hit send. Then more thoughts entered my mind and I found myself wondering why this was so hard, why it felt awkward. I'm sure culture and past experience have something to do with it. In our world today these words can be thrown around rather easily. They can be empty, which is why we must not just love with words, but in deed and truth. I want my "I love you's" to be genuine and carry meaning. I pray when I whisper, or write, these three little words they are fulfilling Ephesians 4:29.

As I continued to reflect, I had a new thought...sometimes "I love you" is hard for me to say because it's also hard for me to receive. Saying this familiar phrase and hearing it have some similarities. I'm in the process of preparing a message about our worth and I'm learning how understanding who I am and where my worth comes from is connected to my experience with love.

Ultimately this all goes back to God - 1 John 4:8 tells us, "God is love." He is the One who loved me while I was still a sinner. (Romans 5:8) He is the One who loved me enough to send His Son to die. (John 3:16) He is the One who loved me first. (1 John 4:19) I don't have to earn His love, He lavishes it on me, and you. (1 John 3:1) He longs for us to believe this and receive it.

Friend, as we do that we can share it with others and impact the kingdom. Like my lil boy we must realize love is more than words, but as I'm learning using words to express our love is important too. Do you appreciate hearing "I love you"? If so, chances are the one you share them with will be blessed as well! Is there someone who needs to hear you say, "I love you"? Just say it!!

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. 

Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." 

1 John 4:7