“I love you.” The three little words that everyone wants to hear, that we don’t say often enough, that comprise one of the most powerful things we can say to someone.
But it occurs to me there’s an even more powerful, meaningful sentence: “I still love you.” These four words connote a lot that may be missing from a simple “I love you.” The three-word sentence could be spoken out of infatuation, excitement, even hopefulness.
But the four-word version says a lot more: it implies full knowledge, forgiveness, commitment.
It’s the message of God to us, over and over in the Bible. And it’s one of the most moving things we can hear from—or say to–another person.
Today is my 19th wedding anniversary. I still love him—and, to my astonishment and delight, he still loves me.