JANUARY 13, 2010

SAYING "I LOVE YOU"

Scripture Reading

Proverbs 19:26--"He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his

mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach."

John 13:34--"A new commandment I give unto you,

That ye love one another; as I have loved you,

that ye also love one another."

Few words in the English language have greater impact than the phrase, "I love you." To say "I love you" is to say, "You are special, and you mean the world to me." These words are especially meaningful when parents and children share them with each other. This verbal expression of love has the unique ability of drawing a family together and of keeping a family together with incredible strength.

Years ago, I was driving home late at night from a preaching engagement. It was necessary for me to travel through a town where my parents were attending a week of meetings. I knew the motel where they were staying and pulled into the parking lot. Not knowing their room number, I drove around until I found their van. Their room was dark, so I knew they had already gone to bed. Parking, I wrote a note that said, "I am thankful for you, and I love you." After signing my name, I placed the note under one of their van's windshield wipers. As I drove away, I was grateful for another opportunity to tell my parents how much they mean to me.

I dread the thought of causing shame and bringing reproach to my parents. For that reason, I will never be too old or too big to give them a hug and to say, "I love you." As a father, I now understand what a blessing it is when my children tell me that they love me. Someone has said that talk is cheap; however, when someone speaks the words "I love you" from a genuine heart of love, they are priceless. Nobody ever gets too far away who continues to say, "I love you."

ASSIGNMENT: Whether you are an adult or a child, look for a way to say "I love you" to your parents A.S.A.P.

--Tom Palmer--

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN " 1 " YEAR: Genesis cc. 40-42