LOVE

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and in church Pastor talked about love.  It was really sweet because he had a slide show to accompany his sermon.  There were cute animals together in sweet little poses.  There was a younger couple in love and then the screen went to a picture of elderly hands.  Pastor focused on how we get some the first couple to the second.  He went around the church asking several couples how long they had been married.   We had 6 couples that had been married 48 - 54 years.  How wonderful is that!?!?!?!

They all gave their advice on how they survived.  Many said marriage was a commitment they didn't take  lightly and that God was an active part of their lives.  They said it took lots of patience.  He would also ask how do you know ____ loves you?  Some said "it is the things they do for me", but one said, "She puts her head on my shoulder just before she falls asleep."  OMGosh...how sweet is that?!?!

As I come up on my 7th anniversary, with every intention of being married more than 50 years, I listened carefully and started thinking.  How does my husband know I love him?  I hope he knows because I say it enough.  But I also hope he knows because I respect him.  I respect his budgeting and financial plans for our family (I know I pick on him about the budget, but he truly has a plan for our family and goals we all want to achieve).

Now the question comes...How do I know he loves me?  Because he tells me.  Because he thanks me when I make dinner (and i make dinner a lot), when he comes up behind me and rubs my shoulders, when he kisses me goodbye for the day, when he kisses me when I come home, when he kissed me before he goes to bed.

I often ask Christian how he knows I love him.  He tells me "because I'm 5 years old and I just do".  It is a nice feeling to think your kids just know you love them.

So Happy Valentine's Day.....and to quote Pastor Randal Wyles of South Austin Church of the Nazarene "go tell somebody you love them."