Most of my driving involves just a few miles from my home. We can get to our church and school in three minutes if the three traffic lights on the way are green, and most of the stores we go to aren’t much farther. So when a light comes on and a ding sounds from my car’s dashboard telling me I have less than 1/8 of a tank of gas, I can still drive for three or four days without filling up the car if it is a normal week. Stopping for gas is not one of my favorite things to do, so I tend to put it off and then fill the car to the brim so I don’t have to do it again soon. When I hear that “ding,” I click on the button that tells me the DTE (distance til empty) and keep an eye on it over the next few days.

My car had “dinged” a couple of days ago, but the DTE showed I still had several miles before I needed a fill-up. Yesterday we had to take my car to the shop because the brakes were making awful noises, and my husband and oldest son went to pick the car up late in the afternoon. This morning when I got into the car to take Jesse to school, I glanced at my DTE and saw that it said something like 258 miles: Jim must have filled the car up after he picked it up from the shop yesterday. I told Jesse (and hope he remembers when he gets married) that sometimes flowers or a nice night out show love, but sometimes little things like filling up someone’s car with gas shows love, too. Those little signs of being cared for do a heart good.

I got to thinking about other “little” ways that my loved ones show me their love and care, and I thought I’d list a few. I invite you to do the same either here in the comments or on your own blog (and if you do the latter, let me know — I’d love to read your list). I might be adding to this as more things come to mind.

Sometimes love means…

— putting gas in my car.

— killing bugs or taking care of other unwanted “critters.”

— changing light bulbs. I have a balance problem, and though I can climb up on a chair, it’s hard for me to let go of the chair to use my hands for anything.

— watching “chick flicks” with me.

— listening when I talk about a problem without necessarily trying to “fix” it.

— patience when I am running behind.

— taking care of the “mess” when the kids are sick. That actually started when our firstborn was a baby and had gotten sick all over himself and his bedding. As my husband and I both took care of him, the smell and “ick” factor were almost overwhelming to me, and though I don’t think I said anything out loud, somehow Jim knew. He said, “Honey, why don’t you go on out and let me clean this up before I have two messes to deal with.” That started a routine, wherever the kids were sick, that he would take care of and clean up the child, and I would take the bedding and messed-up clothes straight to the washer. (I can deal with it if I need to, especially when Jim’s not home, but it involves taking several steps away to breathe fresh air for a minute and then coming back.) Even now, when one of the kids has the “throw-up pan,” Jim will usually empty it out and rinse it on his own initiative.

— working hard to provide for us.

Thank you, honey, for these things and for all that you do. I appreciate it so much, and I don’t tell you often enough.

With my kids, sometimes love means…

— doing what I ask you to cheerfully and without complaining or groaning.

— doing something that needs to be done without being asked.

— appreciation of the food I make, even if it is just tuna sandwiches.

— for my oldest son, patiently and often answering my computer questions.

There are so many ways you guys make me feel loved, but these are a few that come to mind. Thank you!

I have a couple of dear friends who make me feel loved by sending unexpected, thoughtful little notes sometimes and by their genuine attentiveness and interest in my life.

So how about you? What are some ways those in your life make you feel loved?

(Graphic courtesy of the stock.xchnge)