Don’t Throw the Words “I Love You” Around Haphazardly

Hello everyone!

How many times do we hear the words, “I love you?” How often do you think these words are meant by those who say them? How many times do we say “I love you” to others? Do we mean it? Is it just a saying to us? Do we even think about the meaning of those words? 

I want to ask everyone reading this blog not to throw the words “I love you” around so haphazardly or flippantly that you forget what they mean. If you say it, mean it. We can do so much damage if we say them and don’t mean them or say them and then act in an opposite way. I have been the one who heard the words “I love you” or read them in a text but did not see love evident in the life of the speaker toward me or anyone else for that matter. 

What exactly do we mean when we say “I love you?” I’d like to share what those words no only mean to me but what they mean when I say them. 

When I say “I love you”, I am saying I walk with you through thick and thin. When I say “I love you”, I don’t use you for my own material or personal gain. When I say “I love you”, you are not an object to me. When I say “I love you”, I respect you and accept you for who you are, faults and all. When I say “I love you,” I don’t talk at you, I talk with you. When I say “I love you”, I don’t allow evil to come between us. When I say “I love you”, I see the good in you always. When I say “I love you”, I speak kindly to you yet tell you the truth. When I say “I love you”, I am the person you can talk to about anything. When I say “I love you”, I practice healthy boundaries with you so you are free to be who you are and I am free to be who I am. When I say “I love you”, I forgive you. When I say “I love you,” I do not harm you and I keep you safe. When I say “I love you”, I point you onward and upward. When I say “I love you”, I point you to Jesus. 

Ladies and gentlemen this is the essence of love! If you don’t believe me, look up 1st Corinthians Chapter 13 for yourself. If love doesn’t look like 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 or mirror what I have written to you today in word and deed, it is not love! If someone is telling you they love you yet they are not acting in love, they are lying and manipulating you! They are simply throwing “I love you” around haphazardly and using the phrase for their own benefit. They do not know love and there is no love in them. If you are the person doing this to others, I encourage you to find out what real love is starting now. You can repent and reverse your course and love and be loved! Let us say what we mean and mean what we say. In so doing, we will be trusted and safe people. We will be people of integrity who know how to love and how to walk in love. As Christ loves us, let us love others; because He loves us, let us love others. Love, 

Elizabeth