Whether it’s all the lovey-dovey holiday hype, the girlish fever for Daddy-Daughter-Dance fancies, a series of personal, real-life conversations I’ve had, or some combination of it all, something has my heart on high alert with the message I share today.

It’s a message of words.

Words are everywhere in our modern world. With information and communication right at our fingertips, the words in our lives are in abundance. And yet, amidst the sea of messages, we sometimes find ourselves caught in a wave of wordy meaninglessness.

Today I am tossing in the life raft.

I was talking to a fellow mommy friend the other day, and as we were parting ways, I told her how much I enjoy her company and her fun personality. It was a simple and true statement of my feelings. Later, she texted me and thanked me for my kind words, saying, “People so rarely just come out and say those things, and it felt really nice to hear.”

It got me to thinking… she’s right. The truth is, verbally stating affection and approval doesn’t come naturally for all people. Frightened by vulnerability, some of us find the expressing of such words a difficult and uncomfortable thing. We prefer to believe that our loved ones just know how we feel about them even if we don’t say it—and they probably do. But what we deny is that they need to hear it anyway.

On my personal blog a few months ago, I shared a conversation I’d had with my mom. During a phone call about something else entirely, I felt the need to thank her for her verbal shows of love and support throughout the years. I told her that she has always made me feel like I can do anything I want to do—like she has never doubted me—and that I’ve always known she has my back.

On the other end of the line, my mom started to cry. She said, “Thank you for telling me that about me. I didn’t get that when I was growing up, so I’m glad to know I didn’t pass that on.”

I sensed a mingling of pain and relief in her tears. Pain bred by years of doubt from words left unspoken, and relief in an affirmation her soul silently begged to hear.

You see, words are powerful. Aptly spoken from a sincere heart, words have the power to bless and to give life. They have the power to subdue doubt. To empower, encourage, unite. To transform. To build up. Even to save.

When given voice, positive and encouraging words create an environment of love, trust, assurance, and growth.

There are people in this world who are hurting inside—people who are aching to know they are loved… even liked—who are yearning for the affirmation of a spoken word.

Do your friends know you value them? Do your parents know you appreciate them? Tell them.

Do your kids know how much you adore them? Do they know you enjoy being with them? Do they know you believe in them? Tell them.

Does your husband know you’re still glad you married him? Does he know he’s still the one who sweeps you off your feet? Does he know he has your loving support? Tell him.

And not just today. Not just this month. Often.

Words are powerful, and so is their absence.

One of the most meaningful gifts you can give your loved ones this Valentine’s and always is your verbal expression of affection, approval, and appreciation.

Tell them.

What affirming words will you speak to your loved ones this week?