What traits define love more than a feeling?
It’s actually pretty easy to say, “I love you.”
That’s a good start!
I have learned that some significant actions go along with those words.
In fact, if these actions are not present, those three words are just that: WORDS.
Apply these principles in your marriage, friendships, relationships with relatives, and acquaintances. Watch them be transformed!
Here are four actions that go along with “I love you”:
“If it’s important to you, it’s important to me.”
Little things are essential to a person you love. However, they often seem trivial and insignificant to you.
Guess what? Those little things are important to God.
Anything important to one of His children is important to Him!
If it’s important to Him, it has to become important to me.
When a person you love asks a favor, a question, a helping hand, or a moment of understanding, it immediately becomes important to me.
“Your burden is my burden.”
2. “I will always be honest with you.”
Love is also defined as transparency.
I can’t say I really love someone if I am hiding my true feelings behind flowery words.
I can’t deceive you in the slightest if I love you.
I’m real, I’m honest, I’m accurate.
Trust is the foundation of love.
Why deceive someone you love? Maybe to impress them or keep them from rejecting you.
Let the truth be known. Take off the masks. That’s love.
3. “I love you for who you are, not what you do.”
There is nothing worse than a friend or companion who demands that you perform or “get lost.”
Of course, love serves and gives. Of course, love feels your need.
How and when they do that is their choice.
Let them choose when and how they want to do something special for you.
Demanding performance ruins relationships.
My daddy used to say, “If you want to be free, you have to let people be free.”
Your love is not based upon performance, but on covenant and honor.
4. “I give up my right to be right.”
Love does not have to be right.
In fact, you and I are not right all the time!
I have to admit my faults to love you. I have to recognize my limits to love you.
I need your input and feedback. I honor your opinion, and it makes me much better.
No one can love a “know-it-all, see-it-all.”
I don’t have to be right. I have to have the right spirit. Listen more attentively and be open to the possibility that someone else may be right.
Defensiveness never wins out in the long run.
Try these four actions that accompany “I love you.”
Life is about to get a whole lot easier for you and me!