People should not take their relationships for granted, and Victoria Osteen, wife of popular Christian speaker and author Joel Osteen from Lakewood Church, has a few suggestions on how people can make their loved ones feel special.
"Leaving notes for a loved one is an easy and effective way to keep connections. It's something I do a lot. In fact, if Joel ever travels without me, I put little notes in his socks just to say 'I love you,'" she shares on her blog. "You can also leave notes around the house, in a drawer, under a pillow or on the TV remote as little reminders to your loved ones that they are valuable to you."
For the Osteen family, enjoying recreational activities is one way of letting each other know they love and care for them. However, this expression of love isn't always easy to achieve.
"It used to be a challenge to try to figure out what we wanted to do as a family. Everyone would have a different idea, and it took forever to decide," she says. "Then, we created a family 'idea jar' in the kitchen. Every time someone had an idea for a family activity, they would write it down and put it in the jar. Then, when we would have time together, we would pull an idea out of the jar. It made it fun and interesting for our children, and we all enjoyed the surprise!"
Osteen is encouraging people to take time with their family and loved ones, whether it be the simple act of eating meals together or having a date night with their spouse. It's also fun to do spontaneous things every once in a while, such as riding go-carts or having a leisurely picnic in the park.
"Connect with your words, heart and actions because when you make the effort in relationships, you will reap an eternal reward. Keep the connections strong!" she says.
