Three Precious Little Words "I Love You"

Aubrey's vocabulary has exploded over the past few weeks. Everyday it seems she is learning new words and it is so fun to witness.

Tonight as I was bathing her I told her I loved her as I often do and without looking up or stopping her bathtime activity, she said, "I love you." While she was merely repeating what she heard and didn't understand what those words meant, hearing those words from my sweet little toddler for the first time was incredible. It melted my heart. I can't wait for those moments in the future when she'll grab my face unexpectedly, give me a kiss and tell me she loves me and truly understand what those words mean.

Aubrey repeating those three words tonight meant the world to me even though I knew she didn't know their meaning. Hearing those words from her made me start thinking about how often we say those words half-heartedly or with little thought to what they actually mean. Truth be told, those three little words can often be overused and yet sadly in so many households across the world underused. 

I think about those children who will never hear those powerful words from their parents or worse never feel loved by them. Three little words we sometimes take for granted, but hold such power when shared and equally hold power when withheld.

I'm very thankful to have parents who often told me and my siblings they loved us, but more importantly showed their love in their responses and actions towards us.

Three little words that make a person feel valued and genuinely important.

Take the time to share those three words with the people you love and be sure to give thought to the power and meaning of them.