Words that Echo
(Reposting this entry from my Tea with Tiffany blog. I wrote this in 2005 but the idea is still true today!)
Recently, my mind flashed back to something my daughter said years ago.
One night, my husband, my son, and I were about to watch The Lord of the Rings in the family room. So I set up a movie for my five-year-old daughter, Hannah, in my bedroom. She wasn’t thrilled. She wanted to stay with us. I told her I loved her and that she needed to go watch her movie now.
Hannah cried and said, “I know you say you love me, but you don’t show me you love me.”
Words that echo in my heart and still haunt me to this day.
I asked her what she meant. She said love is giving her hugs and kisses. I never knew her love language was affection until then. Obviously, I missed the mark. After that, I made a conscious effort give her xxxooo’s. She never brought it up again.
I wonder. Do I say I love my family and not show them—still? My husband and I tell our son all the time, “Actions speak louder than words.” We want him to show us he cares about his grades by applying himself, doing his best, and studying. Saying it is not enough.
How many times do I say “I love you, Lord,” and then go about my day, ignoring Him and living according to my pleasure? What do my actions say to God? Or my family? My friends? Does my life show love? Or am I just lip service?
Life is not easy. It takes effort to show love no matter what your love language. (Service, quality time, words of affirmation, affection, gifts. Based on the book The Five Love Languages.) Sometimes I’m all talk. I’m tired. Stressed. I do what is necessary, but without love.
But God asks me to die to myself daily; be a servant and an example. This is a daily battle. However whenever I do walk with God, living out His love, I find gifts and treasures I never expected.
Loving is always worth the sacrifice.
Thanks you ladies for your blog. We noticed your most recent post about relationships and Love Languages!
I would love to invite you to visit Dr. Chapman’s new blog: Gary Chapman.
Check out other free resources and become a part of the community of bloggers who are following this blog.
Sincerely,
Kristen
Moody Publishers
Great words of encouragement today. Yes actions do speak louder than words and what a great challenge today for us to look inward to see if our actions towards our Lord match what our words we speak about Him. Thanks for the challenge today.
So lovely my friend.
Boy, that post rings true! I’ve never thought about the love language between me and God before…
How wonderful that Hannah expressed her love language so young!
Great post, my friend.
That is oh.so.true, Tiffany. We often say we love someone, but do we really show it in our actions?!? I will make an effort to show my love in actions today — not only to the people close to me, but also to my Lord…