I. Love. You. Scary, I know.

    Language can be powerful. We tend to carelessly think about the words we choose to put together, but word combinations can be life-giving, destructive, healing, the list goes on. In a world where we’ve cheapened language, we don’t pause to think about the words we use. We’ve even gone as far as reducing laughing, something that is good for the soul, to mere letters. “lol”

    On their own, the words “love”, “you”, and “I”, aren’t anything to bat your eyelashes at. We use them in a variety of combinations. “I really like this restaurant.” “Have you seen that new movie?” “I just absolutely love this brownie a la mode.” But put them together and they are powerful and can leave you vulnerable all at the same time: I love you.

    I. Love. You. A trio of words where you take personally admit that you put someone above all else, that you value someone more than life itself, that you value someone regardless of what they do or where they’ve been. It may sound hokey, but it’s true. It only sounds hokey, because we’re afraid the admittance of that statement. When 1 Corinthians 13 says “love never fails” it means that the affection you have for someone never perishes.

    I’ve noticed that our culture has become uncomfortable with the vulnerability and strength of “I love you.” We’ve cheapened it to “love ya”, “ily”,  “I <3 u”, or we flirt with it by saying “love you.” We’ve denied personal responsibility for our love, too nervous of rejection or seeming overzealous. I’m not the only one that has noticed this. Even Beth Moore has noticed this. She mentioned in her recent conference, Living Proof Live, that we need to step up and put the “I” back in I love you.

    Are you guilty of this? I certainly am. So here’s my challenge to you- either say it or don’t bother saying it. Be courageous and vulnerable and put the “I” back in your love you. Not just “I love ya.” Be specific. “I love you.”