Ways to Say "I Love You"

This is love:  not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  1 John 4:10-11
 
Feeling love for someone is easier than expressing love.  In his book, Ways to Say I Love You, Stephen Arterburn comments, “Loving people requires setting self aside momentarily and focusing our devotion, attention, and affection upon someone other than ourselves.  Love is, above all things, unselfish.”  He goes on to offer 51 practical ways to express love for our children in a language that they can understand.  I’d like to offer a few of these to you today:
 

1. Make a pledge to love your child – The most valuable gift you have to offer your child is the unwavering confidence of your love.  It answers the all-important question, “Can I behave in a way that loses my parent’s love?”  The answer, like the Dad toward the Prodigal Son, is “I will always love you.”
2. Make something together – My daughters enjoy different crafts, but it means something special when we create something together.  Step into your son or daughter’s world, and whatever you produce will be a treasure.
3. Be willing to let go – Trust is earned over time through responsible behavior.  And nothing says, “I love you” like a simple act of trust.  It communicates confidence, growing maturity, and respect.
4. Take your child with you – Whether it is a Saturday trip to Bed Bath & Beyond, or an overnight trip for business, inviting your child communicates that he or she is welcome in your world. 
5. Introduce your child – In previous generations, children were invisible.  You send a strong message to your son or daughter when you introduce them to your adult friends.  It says, “I’m glad for you to meet my child whom I love.”
6. Help your child build a collection – Whether it is stamps, rocks, or – in my daughter’s case – pull tabs from soda cans, collecting items together brings a sense of longevity to your relationship. 
7. Read Together – Most of us did this when our kids were very young, but don’t discount the value of enjoying a story together as they grow up.  Trade off reading chapters, and pause to talk about the story.  In this way you enter a completely different world in which unique memories can be made.