Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, and I Love You!

   

         The three words that are said way too much, yet not enough. They’re completely taken out of context, occasionally meaningless, and said just to fill a gap in the conversation. But more than that they’re used to express a feeling that isn’t comparable to any other in the world.

            You don’t necessarily have to hear “I love you” to know how someone feels about you. Listen carefully. People speak from the heart more often than you think.

14. “Let me know when you get there so I know you’re safe.”

13. “I’m here for you.”

12. “You mean the world to me.”

11. “Be careful.”

10. “I know you’re busy, but I wanted to call and say hi.”

9. “I’m proud of you.”

8. “I can hang out with my friends later, I want to spend time with you.”

7. “I got this for you just because.”

6. “I’ll help you with that.”

5. “I just wanted to hear your voice.”

4. “I know you just woke up, but you still look beautiful.”

3. “I think about you all the time.”

2. “Want a bite? I’ll share with you.”

1. “I miss you.”

            How often do you say some of these phrases to people you care about? I know I’ve said all of them to people who mean something in my life, and in return, the people who love me have said similar things before.

            Something important to remember though is that actions really do speak louder than words. Words are cheap. Sometimes you don’t even need words to get your emotions across because it’s proving that you mean those words that demonstrate the love.

            Saying sorry is meaningless if you continue to make the same mistake. I was once told that sorry only makes you feel better. And I believe that’s true in some cases. If a person constantly apologizes for the same mistake again and again, he or she is doing so because they feel as if it’s his or her free pass. The mentality is, “If I apologize, all is well and I can carry on with my life. And if I’m forgiven for the same mistake more than once, I know I can continue to mess up and still be given another chance.”

When you’re at a funeral and at a loss for words, a hug is all that people need to know you care for them and you’re there for them.

            I was the first person in my family who ever played basketball and the only girl who never cheered. When I was in 8^th grade, my uncle and his son surprised me at one of my games one night because they never had seen me play. I never gave them a schedule, or told them to come see me play, but I know that night I had extra fans in the stands and played a great game because of them. Out of love, they took time out of their schedules to come see me play.

            It’s Valentine’s Day. If you have a special someone in your life, hopefully you told him or her some or all of the 14 extra ways to say I love you. If not, reach out to someone you care about and let this person know he or she is loved. More than anything though, try to do a small random act of kindness every day to show people they are loved and appreciated. You never know when something you think is meaningless can make someone’s day. Maybe that person will do it for someone else and we can start a chain effect?

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8