Have I Told You Lately that I Love You?

Some gifts just keep on giving! That was my experience this week as I was searching for a pretty box that could be re-cycled for Aunt Jean’s new robe. (I’m a box saver.) I found the perfect Christmas box on the top shelf of my closet. But it was what was inside that absolutely wrapped me in a warmth that was more precious than any fuzzy robe could ever be. Whatever gift it contained was long gone (and forgotten), but the gift card from my late husband was still there; it read: “To the Love of My Life; From Your Lover; Every Moment is Christmas.”

At least ten years after they were penned, those words were a precious gift, blessing me with some wonderful memories of our 48 years together and our love that grew brighter and purer as we each came to the know in a deeper sense the extravagance of God’s love for us.

Both of us would have had to admit that in reality every moment had not been like Christmas. We had our share of disputes in which Jesus had no part at all—especially in our early years when I was trying to be in charge. (It didn’t work very well.)

But by God’s grace, Bob’s recollection of those years had been so bathed by our precious Holy Spirit and God’s Word to the extent that he could hardly even recall my harsh words and times of insistence on having my own way. More than seven years after his home-going, his inspired words continued to give life to me, and hopefully to you.

British singer and songwriter, Rod Stewart wrote about the power of our words in his song, “Have I Told You Lately”:

Have I told you lately that I love you?
Have I told you there’s no one else above you?
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles, that’s what you do.

For the morning sun in all its glory
Greets the day with hope and comfort too.
You fill my life with laughter
And somehow make it better,
Ease my troubles, that’s what you do.

There’s a love that’s divine
And it’s yours and it’s mine, like the sun
And at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray
To the One, to the One …

As you think about the perfect gift for your beloved this season, what words will you speak into his life? Have you told him lately that you love him?