Don’t forget…GNILY

Family is important to me. If you follow my blog that is not news to you. Often I talk about the importance of family and friends. I am blessed to have a loving family and friends. Words and deeds are important to back up feelings of affection. No one is a mind reader, although that could be good and bad.

My kids and grandkids live close by. Within fifteen or twenty minutes, depending upon traffic, we are able to chat face to face with either family. I marvel at what wonderful adults the two young children morphed into in what seemed like the blink of an eye. Phone calls from them ring in daily or close to that. Seldom do we end our call without an “I love you and I love you, too”. Awww, music to this Mama’s ears.

Same thing with my parents. God gave me precious ones. Every night when it gets close to bedtime I call Mom or she calls me. We just call to say “GNILY or good night, I love you”. Usually we phone again in the morning just to make sure everyone is doing well. It is important that they know I love them and care about them. I feel their love for me, too. At night I tell my hubby GNILY and he responds with ILYT (I love you, too) or ILYM (I love you more). It warms my soul.

My friend and I say the same thing, too. After chatting and praying we always affirm that we love each other before we hang up the phone. Christ is the center of our friendship and the basis of our love. It is a great way to end a conversation, praying and then “I love you.”

After telling my family that I love them I am reminded to thank Abba for them and to in turn tell Him of my great love for Him. Isn’t He awesome? He heals, loves, provides, forgives, and guides. We are so fortunate and blessed to be His children. Our lives would be very different if we were not.

I would like to challenge you to a couple of things. First, tell the people that are important to you some things. Tell them that they are important, that you love them, and that God loves them, too. Share His love. We are not guaranteed anything except God’s love. Make good use of the time and words you have. Cherish your family and friends. Remember, they aren’t mind readers. They need to be told and shown that they are loved.

Second, work on true, pure love. Replace your name where you see the word love in the scripture below for a guide on helping you love like Jesus.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”

Example: Nyla Kay is patient and kind; Nyla Kay does not envy or boast; she is not arrogant or rude….. Okay, your turn.

_____is patient and kind; _____does not envy or boast; _____is not arrogant or rude. _____does not insist on _____ own way; _____is not irritable or resentful; _____does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. _____bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. _____’s love never ends.”