LOVE EM UP – Part 1
First post in the new LOVE EM UP series
“Shower the Ones You Love with LOVE”
I love my children. We all do.
We do a lot for our precious babies. Pretty much every waking hour (and sometimes sleeping hour) is devoted to keeping them fed, and warm, and happy, and learning, and healthy, and safe, and smiling. There is a lot of LOVE that goes into that.
And it’s sometimes so much that I feel empty, depleted, wanting more, a glimpse of hope that they see how hard I am working and maybe through that they will see how much I love them. Really, really love them! And then I see myself and how I speak to them a little too harshly. I get impatient. I just want some quiet for a moment. I take it out on them. I am easily angered. I keep a record of wrongs. I usually don’t even recognize it. That is not love.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
I know this! I have read it a million times. So I need to take a step back and remind myself of what I am doing here. I am a mom of two brilliant gifts. And a good one – sometimes I need to remind myself of that too! I am doing a great thing here, and I cannot quit. I cannot be distracted. I need to focus. I need to realize that I need to love them as Jesus has loved me.
And yes, I do their laundry, cook every meal (sometimes Chick-fil-A or La Fonda or Felinnis helps with that!), make up their beds, bathe them, read to them, drive them around, buckle them up, clothe them, play with them, tickle them, dress them, laugh with them, brush their teeth and the list goes on.
But I can see there is more I can do. Small things. Things they will remember when they are my age. Things that will help them remember my unconditional love for them. They will never ever doubt it. Because I am going to pour love all over them. And it’s going to be messy! And it’s going to rain love in our house!
Literally.
What if we did this together again?
A Light ‘em Up project inside the walls of our home?
Let’s LOVE ‘EM UP!
Can you imagine how bright our lights would shine through our windows and into the world? How these little lights of ours would be so filled with love that they would ooze love literally to their friends and teachers and strangers.
And maybe in the process so would we?
What if we made signs for our kids and hung them up around the house?
What if we wrote how much we love them on the windows of our cars?
What if we made little placemats for them to see at each meal declaring our love for them?
Or made heart shaped cinnamon rolls?
Or filled up jars with reasons we love them?
Or cut their little pb&j’s into hearts?
Or made their milk pink?
What if we told some extra-long stories at bedtime?
What if we gave them the biggest, fullest bubble bath they had ever seen?
What if we covered the house in pink and red and white?
Or took the time to sit down with them at their school lunch one day?
What if sprinkles came with every meal?
Or if we took a little extra time and dazzled them with dessert?
Or we took them on a sweet little date?
I have this theory that it doesn’t have to be much. It doesn’t have to be extravagant. It doesn’t have to cost a dime. I know about budgets. When I realized it doesn’t take much for a kid to notice something special, it was a new idea to me! I brought my kindergartener a Gatorade in carpool one day. You would have thought I bought her a bike and American Girl doll. I am not kidding! That single act had a huge impact on her. And me.
Love is an amazing thing! Something we can give freely.
We have started early, trying out a few things.
What I am learning is that in the eyes of young kids, we can do no wrong!
They don’t care how perfect streamers are hung, or hearts are cut out.
They don’t notice if the cinnamon rolls are a little funny looking
or if the pancakes are a little burned.
If we make a big deal about it. And make them feel special and LOVED,
then they will feel special and loved.
I am so excited! Already my girls smiles are a little brighter! They get it!
Even my five year olds prayers include thanking God for Mommy
and how loving I am!
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SO, WHO IS IN?
Who is ready to LOVE EM UP?
It’s just simply taking the month of February
or even just the first 14 days to FOCUS on our own.
Shower the ones we LOVE the most with LOVE!
More posts and ideas coming from other contributors.
Don’t worry, our husbands won’t be forgotten!
How do you show love to your kids?
What are the little things that mean the most to them?
