“I Love You” is Proven by Action

Have you ever been the recipient of an empty “I love you?” I’m sure we all have at some point in life. We hope the words are true, but all the actions prove otherwise and leave us feeling cheated.

A better question would probably be, have you ever been guilty of loving only with your words? Have you ever stopped short of actually showing your love–giving it hands and feet and action?

Again, for most of us the answer is probably yes.

While we can’t control how others view love, we can begin to understand and then live out the truth that love is indeed a verb.

Love is a verb, without action it is only a word. Oh, how true that is!

In the book, Love Does, author Bob Goff states that “In the end, love doesn’t just keep thinking about it or planning for it. Simply put: love does!”

Love Does is an incredible call to live love in a way that is unconventional. It’s an example of how loving outside of the norm can bring about huge change, not only in our own life, but also in the world around us.

Bob’s determination and complete abandon are fascinating and inspiring. He lives his life in full throttle, but not simply for himself. Instead his life is an overflow to show others the love God has for them.

The impact Bob has on those around him is only possible because of love. His love doesn’t stop at thoughts and feelings. This type of life-changing love requires action. It is not enough to say I love you. You have to prove it.

While I may not have the opportunity to fulfill my son’s dream of crossing the desert on a motorcycle, become a consul for a foreign country, or rescue children from slavery in Africa (Bob Goff has done all of those things), I do have thousands of opportunities every day to do small things with great love. As Bob states, “I used to think you had to be special for God to use you, but now I know you simply need to say yes.”

Here are ten ways I can live love today:

1. spend a few quiet moments with God, in his word and in prayer, knowing that in order to love I must be filled with his love
2. plan my day well so I can accomplish the things that are most important to my husband
3. patiently answer the hundreds of questions my young children will throw my way
4. lovingly disciple (& discipline) my children in order to point their hearts to God
5. sacrifice my desire for quiet and some “me time” in order to dance with my daughters or play a game with my son
6. make wise choices with the finances God has blessed us with and my husband has worked hard for
7. hold my tongue when I want to snap at my kids or make a negative remark to my husband
8. involve my children in my work and lovingly train them even when I’d rather get it done faster alone
9. make sure the house is cleaned up and the kids are ready for bed when Tim comes home from a long day of work
10. joyfully engage and reconnect with my husband tonight even though I’ll be tired and could easily make excuses for going to bed early

What would proving love look like in your life today?

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