One day this week I listened to my voicemail only to hear a message from my sister in which she said that she just wanted to tell me that she liked me. She went on to comment that she doesn't tell me that often enough, but she wanted me to know.
I was so amused and delighted by her sweet message that I laughed aloud as I listened which caused the four-year-old to ask what I was laughing at. I told him, explaining that his aunt had just left me a message to say that she liked me. His response (perfectly appropriate for his age) was self-focused, "Instead of us?" I went on to explain to him that it wasn't instead of he and his brother. No, in fact, they know that their aunt likes them very much.
What I said to him was this: Sometimes adults forget to tell each other than we like each other. We do a better job telling kids that we like them and love them.
I couldn't help but also remember a conversation I had with a 90-something year old woman one day when she was in the hospital. As I went to leave she said, "I love you." Then she added, "We just don't say that often enough."
"I like you."
"I love you."
These are both important sentences for us to say and to hear...to and from both the big and little people in our lives. I think I'll work on stating my feeling more often to those who make a difference in my life. After all, I want them to know.
Don't forget to visit Hyacynth for more Bigger Picture Moments.
11 comments:
you are so right. Adults don't say it enough to each other. How sweet of your sister.
Thank you for commenting on my post. I can't wait to read yours on being second :)
this makes me want to call my sisters and tell them how much i love them.
love the "instead of US?" part;) kids are funny.
We DO need to hear it. Great big picture. It is the simple things!
Oh that's just beautiful. And so true!
How true, Jill, how true.
My sister, whose name is also Jill, will always, always tell me she loves me before we hang up the phone. She's six years younger, and I always used to think she said that because she was the baby of the family, and everyone always was cooing over her and expressing their feelings for her.
Perhaps that thought has some merit.
But whatever the reason she does it, there's one thing that's certain: it's needed because as adults, we do often fail to remind each other about our feelings toward them.
Thanks for linking today.
This is a great post! In a day and age where everyone is so busy, the most needed sentiments are often overlooked. Your post prompted me to send messages to several people close to me to tell them "I love you!"
this is so true! Thanks for the reminder! I'm sorry and I was wrong are also some words we have a hard time remembering to say as well! Lovely post!
Brooke, great point! I'm sorry and I was wrong are definitely challenging! Being humble in general - which both of those require - is a struggle. Thanks for reading!
the older i get the less i find myself saying it to other grownups.
thanks for the reminder....i'll be sure to let someone know tomorrow.
Its funny how much we need to hear these things, but so often fail to do it ourselves, Thanks for the reminder :)
Cute!
The other evening my husband and I were getting ready for bed and he said out of the blue, "I like you.
Then he elaborrated that he appreciated how I've grown, don't hold grudges, forgive quicker...I loved hearing it. It meant more than a habitually voiced "I love you."
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