This past weekend, I enjoyed getting to spend an afternoon with my granddaughters Lena (6)
and Vera (3). When I plan these visits, I pack bags the day before with all kinds of activities we
can do together and snacks we can enjoy. I do this because I want the visits to be creatively
fun, memorable and filled with expressions of my love.
Sometimes when I am parking the car in front of their townhouse, I can see their cute little faces
in the kitchen window light up with excitement that I have arrived. I enjoy their enthusiastic
greetings and how Vera says goodbye to Mom and Dad, and then states “You can go now. Bye
bye!”
One of the activities we did together weekend was making heart magnets for the refrigerator.
One of the magnets had “XOXO” lettering which Lena proudly remarked “GG, in case you didn’t
know XOXO means Hugs and Kisses.”
Vera needed a little more help with her XOXO lettering. Every time I mentioned getting the
lettering right for her “hugs and kisses”, Vera would drop everything to give me enthusiastic
dose of her hugs and kisses. My, that simple act of love made my day and brought such joy to
my heart.
I have to intentionally plan time to be with my loved ones. The distractions of work and the
commitments at church and ministry can easily lure me away from making time for those God
given me to love and cherish.
Making time for loved ones is important, so is being mindful of our words and actions when we
are with them.
Proverbs 31:26 reminds us that kindness should be the rule for everything we say. 1 John 3:18
TLB reminds us that we are to “…stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and
show it by our actions.”
In other words, God is not only interested in what we do and say, but how we do what we
do—the heart behind our actions.
Your call to a deeper kind of love at home may involve curbing a sharp reaction to a childish
accident, maybe helping a roommate with a project, or repeating yourself gently to an elderly
parent. This commitment to showing a deeper kind of love at home takes extra effort.
Home is also where we are greeted with daily annoyances and disappointments that tempt us to
develop an attitude. 1 Corinthians 13 can helps to empower us to walk in a deeper kind of love
instead.
Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty
or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not
hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong...you will be loyal to him no
matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always
stand your ground in defending him.—1 Corinthians 13:4-8 TLB
When we demonstrate a deeper kind of love with people who know us best and see us at our
worst, our effectiveness outside the home will have even greater impact. John 13:35 says it
best, “Everyone will know you as My followers if you demonstrate your love to others.”
Show a deeper kind of love that starts at home and in our closest relationships, but it doesn’t
need to stay there. Let love guide your life (see Colossians 3:14).
Blessings,
Cindy