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EliBeth! So good to "see" you again 
And wow, you sound like an amazing person with an amazing family, haha. I would have loved to be your friend IRL.
Thanks for sharing all those with us.
As for me, honestly @love_comes_softly 's list is pretty much it! That's also what I do. (high five, sister)
But the way I express love depends on if I'm interacting with a believer or not, as well.
--- If they're in Christ, I will generally be more open with them in my expression and find it easier to tell them "I love you" and hug them, and also send them Bible verses / pictures or encouraging words. Depends on how close I am with them of course (it's not automatic).
With some, it's immediate, and it takes them aback a little bit. For instance, there's a brother in the church I go to, and I just LOVE his mom, like I can't even explain why, I loved her pretty much immediately upon meeting her. We saw each other for the first time at their place for dinner, and after that dinner I gave her a big hug and told her I love her. Mind you, we barely even interacted with each other. She seemed super surprised but also really delighted in my spontaneous love confession (lol) but that's the kind of thing that happens to me fairly often.
I believe it's love from the Holy Spirit towards His people, it is really supernatural and divine and happens very fast. I am not sure why I don't experience it with every single believer in that same way, though. Like, I love all my brothers and sisters in Christ, but with some, it's a different level. Does that make sense? And it doesn't have anything to do with how much I know them or anything like that. Just an immediate strong love. Eh, it's hard to explain.
--- If they're not in Christ, I find it more difficult to be that openly affectionate. Probably because I (wrongly?) assume they won't really understand that kind of affection and love I have for them and I don't want them to think the wrong thing (something like, I like them more than a friend, or whatever).
To be honest, I still find it tricky to express love to others in many situations. I have a lot of love to give but I am also quite reserved and don't want to make others uncomfortable, or make them assume things that are wrong about my intentions (even with fellow Christians).
Generally though, I share my love verbally and through the written word, by telling them how amazing they are and how much I love them and how much God loves them, etc. I also love writing people encouraging notes / letters and giving them little gifts (if I know their taste a little bit). And if they're comfortable with physical touch, I love hugging them and just gently rubbing their back or shoulders, etc. as a sign of affection.
Sometimes I offer to pay for their meal / drink / whatever and I have also happened to pay for more expensive things before, like paying part of a plane ticket or just sending money to help for whatever reason. Right now that's a little more difficult since I'm unemployed but I do offer generosity to others when I can.
Cleaning up after others / serving them is also a way I show love but that's something I would do regardless of the situation, so it's less personal, if you will.
If I enjoyed cooking, I would probably cook for others, too. But alas, that's one area I am really not good at, lol.
And like love_comes_softly mentioned, I smile a lot in my interactions with others and try to actively listen and be present with them. It's a challenge with my family members sometimes but it's a work in progress. : )
With strangers, I sometimes smile at them and if I'm feeling bold, compliment them on something I notice. It's not as culturally acceptable here in Western Europe though, so it's not as easy to do as in the States. When I'm in the States, I'm like "Hey! I really like your hair! Jesus loves you! Have a great day!" LOL.
Bahhh, such a long post...
**gives you a medal (made of chocolate and edible confetti) if you've read this far**
And wow, you sound like an amazing person with an amazing family, haha. I would have loved to be your friend IRL.
Thanks for sharing all those with us.
As for me, honestly @love_comes_softly 's list is pretty much it! That's also what I do. (high five, sister)
But the way I express love depends on if I'm interacting with a believer or not, as well.
--- If they're in Christ, I will generally be more open with them in my expression and find it easier to tell them "I love you" and hug them, and also send them Bible verses / pictures or encouraging words. Depends on how close I am with them of course (it's not automatic).
With some, it's immediate, and it takes them aback a little bit. For instance, there's a brother in the church I go to, and I just LOVE his mom, like I can't even explain why, I loved her pretty much immediately upon meeting her. We saw each other for the first time at their place for dinner, and after that dinner I gave her a big hug and told her I love her. Mind you, we barely even interacted with each other. She seemed super surprised but also really delighted in my spontaneous love confession (lol) but that's the kind of thing that happens to me fairly often.
I believe it's love from the Holy Spirit towards His people, it is really supernatural and divine and happens very fast. I am not sure why I don't experience it with every single believer in that same way, though. Like, I love all my brothers and sisters in Christ, but with some, it's a different level. Does that make sense? And it doesn't have anything to do with how much I know them or anything like that. Just an immediate strong love. Eh, it's hard to explain.
--- If they're not in Christ, I find it more difficult to be that openly affectionate. Probably because I (wrongly?) assume they won't really understand that kind of affection and love I have for them and I don't want them to think the wrong thing (something like, I like them more than a friend, or whatever).
To be honest, I still find it tricky to express love to others in many situations. I have a lot of love to give but I am also quite reserved and don't want to make others uncomfortable, or make them assume things that are wrong about my intentions (even with fellow Christians).
Generally though, I share my love verbally and through the written word, by telling them how amazing they are and how much I love them and how much God loves them, etc. I also love writing people encouraging notes / letters and giving them little gifts (if I know their taste a little bit). And if they're comfortable with physical touch, I love hugging them and just gently rubbing their back or shoulders, etc. as a sign of affection.
Sometimes I offer to pay for their meal / drink / whatever and I have also happened to pay for more expensive things before, like paying part of a plane ticket or just sending money to help for whatever reason. Right now that's a little more difficult since I'm unemployed but I do offer generosity to others when I can.
Cleaning up after others / serving them is also a way I show love but that's something I would do regardless of the situation, so it's less personal, if you will.
If I enjoyed cooking, I would probably cook for others, too. But alas, that's one area I am really not good at, lol.
And like love_comes_softly mentioned, I smile a lot in my interactions with others and try to actively listen and be present with them. It's a challenge with my family members sometimes but it's a work in progress. : )
With strangers, I sometimes smile at them and if I'm feeling bold, compliment them on something I notice. It's not as culturally acceptable here in Western Europe though, so it's not as easy to do as in the States. When I'm in the States, I'm like "Hey! I really like your hair! Jesus loves you! Have a great day!" LOL.
Bahhh, such a long post...
**gives you a medal (made of chocolate and edible confetti) if you've read this far**
I love this topic.
Ways that I express love to those around me:
* I make time and I listen wholeheartedly (no distractions)
* I like to leave little notes of encouragement when I feel lead to
* Smiling- even at strangers (I love that you can "talk" through expressions or even through ones eyes, I suppose that could come off as creepy I hadn't considered that.)
* If I see something that makes me think of the person, I like to get it for them or share it with them.
Ways that I express love to those around me:
* I make time and I listen wholeheartedly (no distractions)
* I like to leave little notes of encouragement when I feel lead to
* Smiling- even at strangers (I love that you can "talk" through expressions or even through ones eyes, I suppose that could come off as creepy
I hadn't considered that.)* If I see something that makes me think of the person, I like to get it for them or share it with them.
And yes, Belka, what you wrote about having different levels of love makes perfect sense. Often I experience bursts of love for people I don't even know very well- especially in the household of faith. I'm not ashamed of saying, "I love you," or showing affection. But yeah, I do try to be cautious around the opposite gender so as not to be misconstrued or a stumbling block.
You know, I am really grateful to the Holy Spirit for His sanctification work. I used to be pretty fearful and have a big deficiency in love. (That is NOT to say I have been perfected in love!) But God is so incredible! He is the miracle working God. 😃 I love how He continually molds and shapes His children into His own image. What a privilege to be tutored in love by the Author of Love.
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18 (One of my favorite verses in the Bible.💟)
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20,21
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