I love you

There lives a man in the Southeastern United States who conspicuously ends all his conversations with family members with "I love you." Before hanging up the phone, walking out the door, or signing off on the e-mail, he adds those three poignant words. When asked about it, he said, "When I was a teenager, my dad and I had a fight and I stormed out of the house. After I cooled off, I returned home to find paramedics everywhere. My dad had suffered a massive heart attack. When he died without regaining consciousness, it left me devastated with guilt. I want to make sure that if another tragedy strikes, I'll at least know my last words to my kids or wife were 'I love you.'"

The Lord doesn't want us to live with constant fear or endless guilt; but I agree that we should guard against letting moments slip away, moments when we should have said "I love you," or "I appreciate you," or I've been thinking of you," or just "Thanks!"

Turning Points

November 2005

Page 17

Guilt; Love; Family