When I read and reread today’s bible verse, the scenario of a child transitioning to a teen came to my mind.
You may be able to relate as a parent, or recall your own childhood and teen years, or maybe you’re going through this stage now and will become aware of your actions (or lack of).
Here’s my thought:
When children are young they easily display affection to their parent. They take ahold of their parent’s hand while walking or snuggle up to mom or dad while watching a movie on the couch. Maybe, while on a stroll, they see a tiny bloom and pick it, then hand it to mom and say, “Here mom, this is for you.”. What about when you walk out the door after dropping them off at a family member or friend’s home, they may hold on to you a little longer and whisper the words, “I love you”. As I’m typing this, I can vividly recollect my own children do these little gestures when they were toddlers.
Wait, what am I thinking? Not just a child to a parent relationship, yet siblings. Seeing the photo above of my own three loves brings joy to my heart seeing how they loved and protected each other in such an affectionate way when they were young. Now, at the stage and locations they are in, it may be via a snapchat or a smart face-to-face comment (followed by a joking smile).
Let’s transition now from toddler to teen/young adult years. The once so tender hand holding between the child and parent may not occur as frequent, if ever. The snuggling on the couch may have changed to “oh, mom” glances at opposite ends of the sofa, or maybe you’re not even in the same room at all during movie time. That tiny bloom being handed to the parent may be now be the child’s hand open for money to go off with a friend. Now they leave out your door with an “I love you” being said by you, and a “yea, you too” being the reply.
The love between the parent and child is still there, yet the way the love is displayed looks a bit different nowadays.
Okay, before we go any further, here’s the bible verse that started this whole thought process:
“My children, our love should not be only words and talk. No, our love must be real. We must show our love by the things we do.” 1 John 3:18 ERV
“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” NLT
“My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love.” MSG
Y’all, love is action! I remember the 1992 DC Talk’s song, “Luv is a Verb” song. In their song they referred to God showing the ultimate love when He sent His Son down from Heaven. They say, “Here is the example that we oughtta be matchin’, ‘cause luv is a word that requires some action.”
I want to encourage you to SHOW LOVE. Show love to your spouse, child(ren), siblings, friends, co-workers, the cashier at the grocery store and the persons in front of and behind you in line, the person who cut in front of you with their car, even the one who may be talking trash about you…SHOW LOVE. Don’t just merely utter the words yet SHOW LOVE. Why? Because God commands us to…even to our enemies.
In 1 John 3:11 we read, “This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” Chapter 3 verse 23 says, “And this is His commandment: We must believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.” 1 John 4:7-8 reminds us that “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
You see, God told us to. If you are a child of God (and I pray that you are) we are commanded to love.
So whatever age or stage you are in, make the effort to show your love to others, not just simply say it…SHOW LOVE.
I pray that others will see God’s love in you today…even if it pains you…SHOW LOVE.
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
Me and my man walking the streets of Sweden.
My three loves now…yes, they do love each other…even though they may not be wrapped up in each others’ arms now. 🙂
