Love a little more...

The following was not written by my but it is definitely blog-worthy...I couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks Bob, for your reminder to love a little more.

"Love a little more"

by Bob Perks

"I love you!" The words just hung there in the air suspended

for the moment, drifting, waiting for the echo..."I love you, too!"

I thought about it and wondered if there really needs be an

echo, a reply of the same.

"Why do we tell someone "I love you?" I wondered. Oh, the

obvious point is to let someone know you care about them.

But do we say it so that we can hear it back? If we say those

words they certainly aren't taken or given lightly. There is power

behind them, woven in between them and laced with tone's of

commitment. But do we also say them because we, too need

reassurance? Are we really saying it this way; "I love you!

Do you love me?"

I believe the best things in life come to us without expectations.

It reminds me of the tradition of sending greeting cards.

"Should I send a birthday card to Uncle Joe?"

"Did you get one from him for your birthday?

"No."

"Well, I wouldn't send one to him."

Or..."John we got a card from the Phillips for Christmas. Did

we send them one?"

"No. I don't remember getting one from them last year. Remember

we decided to send cards only to those who send us one?"

How many things do you do that you label as "giving" when in reality

you are expecting a return for your gesture?

Have you ever given something anonymously?

I'm not suggesting that it's wrong to say "I love you" because you long

to hear it. I just wondered how many times we say it without expectations.

So I experimented with it. The last several times when my wife said

it to me, I didn't reply with the same words. I would say "thanks." In

some cases I replied with a hug. Other times I said or did nothing. The

words hung in mid air. Last night I sighed. That got me into trouble. The

sigh seemed to give a different signal.

For me, hearing the words echo back doesn't mean that much. It seems

too mechanical. Like "Thank you" and "You're welcome." It's polite and

proper, but expected.

So here's what I've come up with.

Touch a little more. A hand on a shoulder, a gentle touch on a chin. If

you are sitting near each other, play "footsies" gently bumping, nudging

your loved one's foot. In this new society of keeping our distance, not

invading one's space for fear of misunderstanding the gesture, the

human spirit longs for touch.

Smile a little more. In a passing glance, return a soft, gentle smile.

Practice it in the mirror and you'll see how your eyes are involved in this

expression of love. They seem to sparkle and brighten as they tell the

person you bring joy to my life.

Offer to do a little more. "Can I get you something?" "Let me get that for you."

"No, sit I'll get the phone."

Watch the expression and body language on that person when you do this.

They suddenly feel special, like royalty.

Call a little more. For no reason at all. "Just needed to hear your voice."

"I thought about you and thought I'd give you a call." You won't see it, but

when they hang up they walk a little taller, the smile will linger for a while.

Write a little more. Don't send a card. Don't send an email. Take a piece

of paper, an envelope and write a quick note to someone you love. Here in

America it costs 39 cents. Do you realize how valuable that investment is?

In these times what can you buy for 39 cents that could possibly be as

valuable as a hand written note. Oh, yes. Send it even if you live in the same household.

Be quiet together a little more. Sitting in silence with someone you love

creates an energy in that space that is breathtaking and unforgettable.

Listen to the sound of love, two hearts beating in one continuous rhythm,

sending pulsating waves of immeasurable force into the world.

Now try saying "I love you" without expectation. If you are doing all of these

things those words will not need an echo. They will not hang in mid air and

die in sadness because you didn't hear them back. They will be absorbed

by the one they were intended for and they will sigh, not in frustration or

confusion, but in satisfaction of knowing it is so.

You actually do this already. When you pray, you say "I love you, God." You

don't wait for a deep sounding voice in reply. "This is God...I love you, too!"

Why?

Because it is understood. We know He loves us not because we hear it, but

because we experience it, feel it, and know it.

Our true love for Him is not in the words we say, but in the way we live. When

we love each other we love God.

I write for you as an expression of love although we have never met.

If you know that, take a deep breath and sigh.

"I believe in You!"

Bob Perks

Bob@BobPerks.com