i love you (pix)

you may not be able to tell, but this is israel's sign for "i love you." as many parents are doing, we're working to teach the boys some sign language (for communication skills develop before vocal skills). the "real" sign would have the pinky, index and thumb extended with the ring and middle fingers folded. it forms the sign-language letters I, L & Y--i love you. israel hasn't quite mastered the pinky yet (so, apparently, he can't hold a tea cup properly either), but we know what he's saying.

so, in a metaphorical sense, do we say "i love you" correctly?

of all the people to which you have or should say this phrase, are you doing it the best way to communicate what you are truly trying to say? a popular song of years past revolutionized relationships with the concept that we needed to be shown and not just told that we were loved. you can follow this a long ways.

but, more importantly, does the way we interact with God say that we love Him? so often we only love God when we need Him to fix something. we only love Him when we're in trouble. our actions say we love Him part of the time--the rest of the time is about us.

we know God loves us because He tells us and He did, in fact, define love for us. but, more than the defination, He is the living example.

love is patient - as demonstrated by His patience when we're being selfish.

love is kind - as demonstrated by not smiting us when we're being selfish.

this is just a simple blog-entry reminder to make "you" more important that "i" when you say 'i love you.'

on second thought, maybe my son has it better than i think. by not extending his pinky, he's taking the "i" out of it. at 16 months old, he's already demonstrating that love is about others, not ourselves.

Heavenly Father, i need to Spirit to intercede for me today. i ain't got the words to express what i'm feeling.