A few weeks ago I was feeling down. After trips home to visit my family, I have often felt discouraged and unloved. Even though I knew logically that this was because of my thoughts and not what was actually true, it was still how I felt. I felt like I made an effort to show interest in the lives of my family members, but that this was not reciprocated—at least not to the degree that I preferred.
We have a group text with the members of my family on it. I decided to stop being involved in the text group as much shortly after the latest visit home. After a few days, my parents noticed and checked with me to see how I was doing. I told them that the text group was similar to visiting home—I just got lost amid a sea of other people.
My parents’ response was to make a sudden trip to drive out of state to visit me. I didn’t want them to feel obligated to come, but they came anyway. I felt a little awkward when they first arrived because we didn’t really have plans, and I didn’t feel we could just hang out at my apartment all day since I have roommates. But we ended up going out and about and having a great time together, enjoying the fall weather and visiting nostalgic locations.
In thinking about that experience today, I thought to myself about how much that action made it clear to me that my parents love me. And I thought further, what if I made sure that people I love have absolutely no doubt that I love them?
I think it is easy for me to assume that people I love know that I love them. I certainly try to show interest when I am around them, and I try to help them in ways that at can at other times. For example, sometimes I try to help financially where I see an opportunity. Just as I knew logically that my family loved me, the actions my parents took left no doubt that they loved me.
If I wanted to be sure that those I love knew with absolute certainty that I love them, what would I do?
