Here is what the Spirit of God says to us: “Tell him I love him.” It could be to a friend recovering from bypass surgery in the hospital; it could be to a homeless man, smelly and half nuts; it could to be your husband just going out the door for a few groceries—and never coming back; it could be to the lady who cut in front of you in line; it could be to your best friend – the one you won’t ever see again, who left the party early to walk home by himself… In all of these situations, the Holy Spirit wants to have us stand in for him. He wants us to deliver the message. It’s the ultimate gift, and it explains why God sent his Son into the world, but it’s less complicated than that. It’s distilled into three words, one phrase, and it’s the point of it all: “Tell her I love her.”
It’s the Holy Spirit’s whisper. He whispers it in our ear while we stand in front of someone it would be impossible for us to love otherwise. And he whispers it in our ear as we casually say good-by to the most familiar face we know. And why do I need to do this? She’ll be back in just a few minutes. Will she? “Tell her I love her.” Don’t miss an opportunity.
Because it’s ultimately what the Father said to the Son when he watched them nail him to a cross and had to turn his back as he agonized alone, covered in sin that was not his and forsaking his only begotten: “Tell them I love them,” God said. And he did.
John Fischer The Catch 
This hit me right on today. My brother died last February from cancer. I made sure I went to see him as much as I could. I also made sure to tell him I love him. My husband died 3 years ago this July. He was going with his dive buddy for mini lobster season. Who knew that would be the last time I spoke to him. The last words to him were I love you. A past love came back into my life in 2009 and helped me through a very dark period. We talked every day, several times a day for the next year. A year ago he stopped talking to me for whatever his reasons are only he knows, he didn’t share them with me. My last words to him were I love you. You just don’t know when people will leave our lives for different reasons. I don’t regret telling my friend I love him. If he ever needs a friend I will always be there for him.
It was a rainy and windy day. Things weren’t going that well with equipment failures and tests gone wrong. Tough morning. There was a break in the clouds, but the wind continued to howl. I volunteered to walk to get lunch – chicken burgers, cokes, and peri peri wedges for all. I don’t mind walking by myself during the day. I needed a break anyway. It is safe enough. I walk to Nando’s across the busy street, repeating to myself, “When crossing the street look right then left – right then left – stay safe!” It is a busy street with no light – so we race across it when the traffic breaks. No worries – there were several people waiting to cross the street – awe yes, herd mentality – cross together like wildebeests.
I noticed a child there, maybe two years old or so, with his dad, I guess. The man was tall and the child was twirling around the man’s leg like a light pole. The child twirled around and between his dad’s legs, around and between, around and between, he was having a great time. The child caught my eyes; immediately his arms shot up and he said something in a language I didn’t understand. His dad picked up the child, held him in his arms, and the child buried his face in his dad’s shoulder. The child looked up at me to see if “this stranger” was still watching him. He looks, I give him a little wave, and he immediately would bury his face in his face in his dad’s shoulder; his dad would rub his back.
The Holy Spirit said “The child said ‘daddy, pick me up’.”
Me “Oh, Hi, yah, that wasn’t hard to decipher.”
Holy Spirit “You need to take those words back to my people.”
Me “uhmm, yah, you want me to tell them, You said ‘daddy, pick me up’?”
Holy Spirit “yes”
Me “sigh, I am trying to watch traffic here.”
Holy Spirit “My child you know of my love and have some understanding of infinity. My people don’t understand My infinite love for them. They don’t understand, that at any time, they can reach up, and say ‘Daddy, pick me up’ and be held in the arms of infinite love. My people need to know. My people need to be told. All they need to do is reach up and say ‘Daddy, pick me up’; I will be there to pick them up.
I AM the one who picks them up.
I AM the comforter.
I AM the one who calms their fears.
I AM the one who wipes away their tears.
I AM the one who says ‘peace child, I love you, and you are mine’.”
Traffic cleared and we cross the street. The child lifted his head to look around; he caught my eyes and gave a little wave. He is safe now. I waved back. By the time we crossed the street, I had lost them.
Holy Spirit “You made a friend.”
Me “Cute child, hope he has a good life”
Holy Spirit “Seeds were planted. He has a Father that will pick him up and hold him, and so do you. Tell my people, they need to know.”
Me “sigh, you know I really don’t want to…”
Holy Spirit “Peace.”
The Holy Spirit was gone as quickly as He arrived. The rain had begun, again. When will I be brave enough to let Him reign?
Beautiful.
This is not a bad way to decided “what to say” in all kinds of moments. You cannot go wrong if you just “echo” what the Spirit is already saying to a person. Of course, I would tie it strongly to well attested parts of Scripture (as you have here) and avoid taking a role of “prophet” in someone’s life with a subjective message. The Bible does say a lot about “reminding” each other so this is solid, good ground from which you can do battle. Thanks for the reminder today.
I was about eight miles from my daughters house when a small prompting urged me to go back and tell her that I loved her. I had left her without even a hug. I pulled my car over in a spot that would allow me to make a u-turn and had a brief conversation with myself that went like this: “Why would you go all the way back when you have a three hour drive ahead of you? You’re going to see her in just two weeks and you can say those words then. Anyway, I’m really upset with her”.
My daughter and I were at odds over her lifestyle, which was destructive to her and her children and I was frustrated and angry. So, instead of listening to the Holy Spirit, I drove on, justifying my actions.
One week later, I received a phone call at 11:30 at night telling me that my beautiful, wayward child had been in a car accident and was dead at twenty-nine years old. What do you think one of my first thoughts were?
Why didn’t I drive back those few miles when God was telling me to? Anger, stubborn pride, inconvenience? I don’t know, maybe those, maybe more, but it was too late. I would never have the opportunity to tell her that no matter what she had done or continued to do, I would never stop loving her.
I don’t beat myself up over this anymore because God has forgiven me, but I’ll always live with regret.
I was particularly touched by today’s message and felt moved to forwarded it to my small group at church and to various family members and friends. I prefaced it with “I love you.” Rereading the message now, I think I was supposed to say, “God loves you.” But, I don’t think I made a serious mistake!
This is amazing given the next day’s Catch. See, you were right!
“Tell him I love him” reminds of a song by Lauryn Hill redone by Colbie Caillat titled “Tell Him.” To me, it’s a well crafted song, rhythmically diverse, and lyrically prosed within the context 1 Cor. 13. Check it out…