The I Love You Look

Ever had someone look at you with a heart so full of love that it shone in their eyes?

Maybe it was a twinkle. A softness. A glow. Maybe they looked like they knew everything about you, and still thought you were worth it. 

No need for spoken words here. You just looked at that other person and knew they loved you. 

Remember if that ever happened? 

Was it your mom? Your dad? One of your grandparents? Your significant other? 

Maybe you did something nice for them, or did something that made them proud. Maybe you made them feel loved. 

Or maybe you disappointed and hurt them, but they still couldn't help but look at you with love. 

Ever had someone do that to you right after you hurt them? Look at you like they loved you? 

Chances are, if it has happened to you, you might have felt kind of ashamed of your behavior, or confused at their response. 

Right? 

What about you? Have you ever given the I Love You look? Given it to someone who just hurt you? 

Ok, I'll stop asking questions now. You can just think quietly. 

So I was training my canvassing team the other day on giving the "I Love You" look to the people they canvassed. 

When I first mentioned the idea, some of them looked at me in alarm.

"You mean everyone I canvass? I don't think that's a good idea for some people..."

It must have sounded like a very vulnerable and scary activity. Who knows what could happen? Maybe some young guy might think the girl canvasser likes him? 

Yea. Maybe. It could happen. 

I wonder if a woman ever wondered if Jesus liked her. I know He had the I Love You look down pat. 

And that's the thing. This is merely an expression of what's in our hearts. As canvassers we pray that God will give us love for the people...so...why is there a hang up with showing them that we love them? Why do we have to hold back? Because it's not socially acceptable? 

I'm talking about godly, non-romantic love here, of course. The kind of love that comes from the knowledge of a soul's value and chooses to treat them with dignity and kindness no matter how they behave. 

I think we hold ourselves back from the most joyful experiences in life when we reserve our love for those who please us, or when it's a socially acceptable situation. 

So a lady rejects me coldly at a door; I give her a genuine smile that winks at the end just because I was happy to see her. Why? How can I do that? 

I don't know how or why. I just let Jesus live through me. I don't love people because they love me or treat me well. I just love them. 

A man is super friendly and talks with me interestedly for a few mintues before suddenly and abruptly rejecting me and turning away. I smile, "Ok, that's fine." And it really is fine; I didn't come to his door because I knew he would treat me well. I didn't known how he would respond, but I chose to knock on his door because love is a choice. 

This is how my life should be. It's not always like that, of course. I'm still trying to break the habit of waiting to feel love before demonstrating it. Canvassing makes for really good practice.

Practice choosing love. Practice demonstrating God's love, especially when I don't feel like it. 

Because the I Love You look doesn't come from your own warm fuzzy feelings, it comes from a heart that has chosen to allow God to dwell in it. 

Share that with others; they need to see it. 

They need to know that love is stronger than evil. Love is patient and kind. It doesn't think evil, even when mistreated. 

It won't be discouraged by lack of reciprocation. It doesn't go away when despised. Doesn't give up in the face of 

of hate. 

God will never give up on you, either. 

If you were to look into Jesus' eyes right now, you would know that He loves you. 

Let Him love you and let Him love others through you. Because life is nothing without Love, and too many people are dying without ever seeing real Love. 

Jesus loves you.

This truth can set people free. Let's show them.