Submitted by Bob Walsh

Should’a  Could’a  Would’a

Why is it so hard to say I love you to your parents?

I’ve asked myself this question thousands of times.  Particularly when I reflect on a couple of phrases in the lyrics of the song “The Living Years” by Mike Rutherford with the group Mike and the Mechanics.

                                                       I know that I’m a prisoner

                                                       To all my Father held so dear

                                                        I know that I’m a hostage

                                                        To all his hopes and fears

                                                        I just wish I had told him in the Living years

So what’s the problem?  Why is it so hard to express love to our Mother of Father?  I grew up in a family where I knew two facts:

1. I loved my parents unequivocally
2. They loved me unconditionally

Unfortunately, our society has conditioned or ingrained us to not express any kind of feeling out loud.  Be it almost anything:  Sadness, Anger, Love, Disgust, Joy etc.  This is why, when you feel the need to tell your parents that you love them, this system gets activated---and the worst part is that:

                                                       You don’t even know it!!!

When growing up, my family unit didn’t say I love you very much.  Love was a given; known and felt but rarely spoken out loud. Saying it felt Awkward. Love was just understood to all in my family.  It took me years to realize that people express and receive love differently.  It also took me years to realize how telling someone you love them is a very, very powerful special message to both you and your loved one.

When I was 15, I was awakened one night by my neighbor while attending Church camp.  My Father had passed away unexpectedly during the night.  I still think even today how wonderful it would have been to be with him to tell him goodbye and that I loved him.  I vowed to never make that mistake again.

Life has its’ bumpy road we all have to follow.  Fortunately, we have Christ to rely on to walk us through the dark spots on our road.  I can assure you, my wife, daughter and son know and hear how much I love them.  I don’t ever want them to have to say:

                                                       I wasn’t there that morning
                                                       When my Father passed away
                                                       I didn’t get to tell him
                                                       All the things I had to say.

Prayer: Heavenly Father we praise and thank You for all the blessings you have given to us.  Please strengthen us so we can tell our loved ones and friends how much we love them.  Help us to convey that love in everything we do.  We pray this in Jesus’s name.  Amen.