I love you the emotion and not the response

​I didn't see Ian after his lacrosse game last night so I messaged him when I got home. Many times messaging can be very impersonal, but not always.

I let Ian know I thought he played a good game and it was fun to watch. His short three word response:

Thanks love you.

I'm sure it was short because he was likely on the bus riding home with his teammates. Which made it all the more powerful to read. One, because he ACTUALLY responded; without hesitation. And two, there was so much emotion in those three words.

His and mine.

You see, I don't believe every 'love you' is created the same. I've written before about the idea that "I love you' can become the most automated human response we have in our response repertoire. To the point that love can become a robotic expression completely disconnected from any human emotion.

But Ian's response last night was all human emotion. I know that because I felt it. I felt that he was so thankful for my pride in him that the only way he could express it was to let 'love you' spill out without thought or interruption on the other side of gratitude.

His love you was a swollen heart and not a well trained brain. When it comes to I Love You, I think that's a really big difference. You can get so good at responding with I love You that you forget what I love you even feels like.

Until you feel your kid's love you.

In my prayer this morning, in thanking God for that message and that moment, I felt myself so overwhelmed with gratitude that God would give me the gift of that kid and those words that all I could say was, thanks love you God.

I know God felt that differently than he feels many of my love yous.

Thank goodness, this morning, I know that very well.

It is my boys that have helped me understand most that 'love you' isn't always love, but sometimes 'love you' is the most beautiful gift life can offer.

And for that gift:

thanks love you boys.