And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us! Romans 5:5 TPT
Convey love with a song
A new friend who lives in another state was visiting me recently. During her visit I had the honor of caring for my precious little granddaughter for an afternoon. She witnessed the fun and joined in fully. We sang the song my Mom used to sing to me: “I love you a bushel and a peck (repeat) and a hug around the neck.” The little one would say, “Again.” She loved it and so did I. I was repeating a pattern of gracious love I had learned as a little girl.
After my son picked up the little one, my friend turned to me with tears in her eyes and said, “Your granddaughter heard ‘I love you’ more times in one afternoon than I did my entire childhood.” This led to the opportunity to have prayer together so she could fully feel the love of her Heavenly Father (Abba).
Make love your lifestyle
The whole point of this series is to look beyond one day each year when we express our love for those who are the most important ones in our lives. Your words determine the atmosphere around you.
A way of life means that you consistently look for ways to express love. Here’s a novel idea? Why not ask your loved ones what they most enjoy whether that is a favorite food, song or candy. Observe their patterns and surprise them.
Active Expressions of Love and Honor:
- Say “I love you” often.
- Show your love serving one another.
- Put feet to your feelings by getting something without being asked.
- Put love in practice by praying over the one who will wear the clothes you are folding.
- Sing as you cook or put the dishes away.
Gracious love patterns are creative
Change the pattern you were handed. Start expressing love in new and consistent patterns. They will last and endure to produce more ‘hugs around the neck.’
Active Expressions of Love and Honor:
- Take a “crazy face” picture of the group every time you get together.
- Write a poem/story/song about them.
- Sing a song together.
What creative love expressions express your pattern of love? Please share in the comments.
Prayer
Lord, we come to You as little children and ask that you recreate in us more than just the idea of love. May love be more than a theory or something we show strangers but not those closest to us. Spark creative ways to show gracious love. May our love be sprinkled with grace no matter where the one we love finds themselves. Open up ways for love to reach the deepest needs of others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Click here to read the rest of the #Write28Days series.
Author, speaker, corporate trainer, ordained minister and Hope Catalyst, Karen Sebastian enjoys sharing her rich life experiences with others – engaging them in adventurous discoveries of the beauty of hope in a dark, cloudy world. Her books will inspire you to embrace hope no matter what you are going through. As a caregiver and widow she took brave steps forward to fulfill God’s calling on her life. She has now remarried and enjoys her new hubby and spending time with their children and grandchildren. To increase hope and improve relationships with yourself and those that you love, check out her Facebook page – The Power of Hope.
The power of hope. Great post too. xo
Susan,
#hopeispowerful
I so appreciate you, Sweet Hope Lady!
Karen
Make love your lifestyle. Such a simple idea and yet often we are too wrapped up in our own thoughts to make it happen. Thank you for the reminder!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. You are so welcome and I know that others are blessed by your life.
Karen
So sad that your friend didn’t hear those words more often growing up. Glad you could be there for her.
Me too, Tara.
Love you!
Karen
I try to let Barbara know I love her through emailed prayers, encouragement, and the occasional sonnt.
Such as (coposed especially for this comment):
I met my dearest spouse online
through a dating website
on which I said it would be fine
if she could stand up in a bar fight.
Other ladies thought me mad
but my eperience of life
was that when things got bad
you’d want a two-fisted wife.
She journeyed from the far Midwest
to meet me in the South,
and she thought, “We’ll he’s the best
when not running off his mouth.”
The Internet proved a good selector;
it gave me a staunch Protector.
#2 at FMF this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2019/02/your-dying-spouse-578-die-like-you-are.html
Andrew,
You are simply the best! This has me holding my sides!!!! And she is now fighting by your side.
Thanks for sharing and the good laugh!
Karen