Last night was the second night in a row that she asked.

It is my nightly ritual that I always tuck her into bed and give her a good night kiss.  But last night, like the night before, she wanted to know if I’d hop in bed and just lay beside her for a few minutes.  I hate to admit that my first response was something like….”I’ve got things to do Paige and you need to go on to sleep”…..but as soon as I said it, I realized what I would be missing out on so I jumped into bed and we snuggled for a few minutes.  She didn’t have anything she particularly wanted to talk about….she just seemed to want to chit chat for a little bit.  So we did that.  And it was nice…..just laying there in the dark and talking over the day. 

Why think twice about doing that?  I don’t know…..I start thinking about the laundry, paying the bills and all my other “to do” things and I start to rationalize that there is always tomorrow to lay in bed and snuggle.  But then I realize I am not promised tomorrow…..and why would I not seize the moment at hand?

I thought the same thing when I heard Karlee singing last night.  She is on the schedule to sing Sunday and she wanted to go to the Christian bookstore to find something to sing.  She found this great Christmas medley of “O Holy Night”, “Holy, Holy, Holy”, and that song by Michael W Smith that says “Holy, Holy, are you Lord God, Almighty” (can’t think of the title right now)….anyway, she was practicing it in the car on the way home and I thought, “wow, what a great voice she has”…..I am biased, but I also think it’s true!!  So I should tell her, right?  Well of course.  But you’d be surprised how many times I think how great my kids are and I have to admit I don’t always verbalize it.  So, I tried not to think twice about it and just tell her.  She’s right in the middle of practicing her song and I told her how great she was sounding.  She nodded at me (i think), and went on singing.  I am so proud of her and I just want her to know it and I realize, again, that I’m not promised a thousand chances to tell her….so I better take them while I can.

How often do I do that with my friends?  How often do I miss the chance to tell them what they mean to me?  Can anybody really hear “I love you” too much?

It reminds me of one of my favorite illustrations my dad would use in his sermons.  It went something like this:

Bob was a guard/watchman at a local bank.  He stood in his uniform by the doors and greeted people.  Bob had recently gone through a serious illness and because of that, he and his family had grown closer.  They realized how precious life was and that they should never take one day for granted.  They started saying “I love you” every chance they got.  They not only said it when they went to bed, but when they woke up.  They said it at the dinner table and when they talked on the phone.  They said it as they passed each other in the hallway or on the stairs.  It became their greeting and their farewell. 

So you can understand what happened next.  Bob was working at the bank.  He noticed a gentleman completing a transaction at the teller window and begining to head toward the exit.  Bob opened the door for him and as the man passed by, Bob said “I love you.”  As soon as he said it, he was so embarrassed.  It had just slipped out and he couldn’t believe that it had happened!  Certainly the man would be offended and as he turned around, Bob waited for the gruff reply.  Instead, he saw tears begin to well up in the man’s eyes.  Bob thought he should try and explain and began by apologizing but was interrupted as the man held up his hand.  “No”, he said.  “Please don’t apologize.  You don’t know how much I needed to hear that today.  My wife and I have been discussing divorce and I’ve been at my wits end.  You just reminded me of something I need to tell her.  Thank you!”  The gentleman took Bob’s hand and shook it generously and left.  You never know how important those words are.

I wish you could hear my dad tell that story…..you would have a big lump in your throat by the end. He is a great story teller!  And every time I would hear him tell that story I would think to myself….I am always going to tell the people in my life how much they mean to me.  Of course I was a teenager at the time and that mostly meant that I had to fess up and tell my folks how much I loved them and my annoying brother and sister!!  Why is it sometimes hardest to verbalize your love and appreciation to those that are closest to you?

What about God?  I think about how often I wake up and start breathing prayers for the day….for my family….for his touch on this person or that person….and I have to confess I don’t always wake up saying, “Lord, I love you.”  In Psalm 73:25 Asaph said, “Whom have I in Heaven but you?  And there is none upon earth that I desire more than You.”  WOW…..have I told the Lord that I desire Him above all else today?  Have I told Him that I desire to know Him, more than I desire to know what He can do for me? 

I’m thankful for a brand new day and a chance to say “I love you”!