SHMILY

The first year that Andy and I were married, we started a devtional book called "Nightlight" by Dr. James and Shirley Dobson. It was a really great book, and some of the devotionals really touched our hearts... but there was one in particular that especially did. Following is an excerpt.

"SHMILY" by Laura Jeanne Allen
"My grandparents were married for over half a century. From the time they met each other they played their own special game. The goal of their game was to write the word "shmily" in a surprise place for the other to find. They took turns leaving "shmily" around the house, and as soon as one of them discovered it, it was his or her turn to hide it once more". They dragged "shmily" with their fingers through the sugar and flour, in the dew on the windows overlooking the patio, in the steam on the bathroom mirror, taped to car seats or scribbled on notes....
S-h-m-i-l-y, "See how much I love you"..........

We both loved this idea, and over the course of our marriage, it has popped up in lots of different places all over our home, too. Under pillows on the bed, in cards, on the fridge message board, spelled out in Andrew's magnetic letters, written in lipstick on the mirror, or even spoken when others are around, and we don't want them to know what we are saying. Once, Andy even spray painted it on the front of his shop for me to see when I drove up. (He was repainting it the next day, anyway!) Let your loved ones know how much you love them every day- and maybe even adopt this idea as your own. We want to use this with our babes, too, when they are old enough to understand what it means.
Doesn't our Heavenly Father tell us this everday, too? Shmily- in the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, shmily- with mercies that are new every morning... Shmily- in our baby's laughter, warm breezes on our face, the miracle of our gardens, flowers, new life. Shmily- in giving his only son for us. May we think of ways to tell HIM today- shmily- spending time in prayer, cuddling our children, fulfilling our God-given roles, obedience to his word. HE never tires of saying it- may our lives always say to him- Shmily.....
I think tonight I'll write it on the side of Andy's tea glass....Shmily- see how much I love you.... Don't ever let them forget ...
Happy Monday and
Much Love,
Jennifer