Mr. : ''I love you too baby''
Shafu : ''Aafu daddy''
Mr. : ''I love you too my love''
Shafu : ''Aafu daddy''
Mr. : ''I love you too darling''
Shafu : ''Aafu daddy''
Mr. : ''I love you too baby''( this time a little bit louder just incase the tike is playing deaf or something)
Shafu : ''Aafu daddy''
Mr. : ''I LOVE YOU'' (he looks at me for explanations)
This is an exchange I witnessed recently between Shafu and her dad.
On the face of it, its nothing but a sweet little girl expressing her love for her dear papa. But I was so moved by this exchange that I began to ponder about this thing called love.
Off the top of my head, I'd say that love is an expressed feeling of deep appreciation for someone or something. When I say 'I love you' am expressing verbally my deep appreciation for you.
To my mind love not expressed is love not felt. I dont think its possible to feel love and it not finding an avenue for expression through you to the object of your affection.
Love is expressed verbally, in writing, in actions, through gift giving, through offering help and the list is endless.
To express ones love is a great thing to do not only for the one expressing the love but majorly for the recipient of such a love.
There is no prescibed method for saying 'I love you'.
The feeling I get when Shafu says ''Aafu mummy'' is soooo good that I often just throw my arms around her and give her a big hug plus lots of kisses. At moments like that it doesnt matter what naughtiness she has just pepetrated or what contraband she is trying to reach, that cute little phrase just makes me feeeeel sooooo good, sooooo valued, sooooo appreciated, its awesome!!!
You'd think I should be immune to it by now cos I hear it everyday an average of twenty-five times( no kidding). The other day, I was in the bath( I'll post about this soon), and in the 15 or so minutes it took me to wash, she must have said ''Aafu'' at least 8 times( she was standing at the doorway).
As I write, I've heard her say it twice and am sure more will still come before am done, but I just love it everytime she expresses her love for me-her mother. I get the same goody goody feeling each time, its amazing.
I think of my reaction to this sincere, open and spontaneous show of affection and I wonder how my heavenly father feels anytime I express my love for Him. Surely it must please Him too.
When Shafu says she loves me, its not because I've just bought her an icecream cone or candy, nor is it because I've done any special thing for her. She just comes out with it at moments when am not expecting it and thats what makes it so much special.
So am thinking I should borrow a leaf from her in my relationship with my father in heaven. The expression of my love to Him should be spontaneous, free and easy, sincere and with no strings attached.
It shouldn't be about what I want or what I've just recieved. Hitherto, my love for God is expressed more at times when am trying to arm twist the father for something big(like my brand new Highlander- which am yet to recieve)
From Shafu's example, I realise that half way through a meal I can look up to heaven and say ''I love daddy'', whilst sorting a pile of laundry I can spare a second to say ''I love you daddy'', just before the orange light turns green I can say ''I love you God''. Nothing more to it just a simple expression of love that is guaranteed to melt the heart of the father and like I often just throw my arms around my daughter and enfold her in a big hug, wouldn't it be nice to be enfolded within the arms of the Almighty?
You've spent too much time reading this why dont you just stop now and turn your thoughts towards heaven, open your mouth and say it........
''AAFU GOD!!!''
